new-look House of Assembly reconvenes -- the first sitting with Pamela Gordon as Premier.

MPs will discuss setting up a new register to declare their business and financial interests.

"I am hopeful that the vast majority of MPs will see the good sense of this and support it,'' said Government backbencher Trevor Moniz, who has pushed for the register.

Another item on today's House agenda -- controversial new shipwreck laws -- will not be debated.

Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said the Historic Wrecks Act 1997 could be altered.

Earlier this year, Government announced it would delay the legislation to allow more public consultation.

The legislation had created friction between archaeologists and divers and even threatened a Government backbench revolt.

The House today will have an unusual look -- with a new Premier, two rookie MPs and a pair of notable absentees.

Taking her place near the Speaker's Chair, will be Bermuda's first woman Premier, Ms Gordon.

She will sit between Deputy Premier Jerome Dill and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness in the seat vacated by her predecessor, David Saul.

Today's session will also see the swearing in of two new faces on the United Bermuda Party benches: Michael Dunkley and Kim Young, who have replaced Dr.

Saul and another former Premier Sir John Swan.

On Tuesday night, Mr. Dunkley and Ms Young scored crushing by-election victories in Devonshire South and Paget East respectively.

Government Whip Rick Spurling said the pair could expect a fairly short inaugural sitting following the Easter break.

The only topic to be debated was the Report of the Joint Select Committee on a Register of Members' Interests.

MPs set to debate register of interests If approved, MPs will have to write down in a public record interests such as paid directorships, shares held and substantial gifts.

The Register of Interests was suggested last year by Mr. Moniz and investigated by the Joint Select Committee on the Register of Members Interests.

It is aimed at addressing rumours and concerns about any conflicts of interest with MPs.

The committee, chaired by Mr. Moniz, studied other jurisdictions where registers exist, including Canada, the UK, the Isle of Man and the Caymans.

If adopted, MPs would have to publicly detail their interests in a book, declaring items including financial sponsorship as a candidate or MP, gifts over a certain value and overseas visits funded by private interests.

It would also include payments from foreign governments, agencies or individuals, land and property owned and companies in which the MP has, either by himself or with a spouse, a certain amount of shares.

MPs now have an obligation to declare an interest and it is up to the Speaker to decide if the MP can take part in the debate.

Yesterday Mr. Moniz said: "I think it's important to improve public perception of and confidence in Parliamentary representatives and this goes some way towards it.'' Mr. Spurling said MPs would have a free vote on the report.

The Wrecks Act was to be piloted by Dr. Gibbons.

Yesterday he said the legislation was being held over because of concerns expressed by the National Trust. He said the Trust had submitted some suggestions which could lead to the Bill being refined.

The delay has been welcomed by objectors, including Maritime Museum director Dr. Ed Harris.

"We will be meeting with the National Trust to put forward an alternative bill,'' he said recently.

Dr. Harris, who is also a member of the Historic Wrecks Committee, believes the new law could tie Government up in expensive legal battles over the value of a wreck. And he said the proposed bill could end up giving wrecks away, protecting the person holding the licence to explore and not the wreck itself.

Dr. Gibbons says the proposed legislation would increase protection for wrecks.