Cheaper fees for UK universities and colleges would help keep Bermuda's links with Britain alive, a House of Commons Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegate said yesterday.

And Scots MP Ian Davidson -- who, with other delegates, met Opposition leader Pamela Gordon yesterday -- said: "We discussed the increasing American cultural influence in Bermuda and what steps could be taken to maintain the British link if that was thought to be desirable.'' Mr. Davidson said he had benefited from working in Norway because many Scandinavians take advantage of top-rated engineering courses available in Scotland.

He explained: "As a student, I was able to go off and work in Norway as a result of the engineering training many Norwegians had got in Scotland.'' Mr. Davidson added many Norwegian companies were now more likely to look towards the UK when looking for business partners or go on holiday to Britain because of these long-standing links.

And he said: "All that was strengthened by that higher education link -- if we were to strengthen these links with Bermuda, it would be to our benefit as much as theirs.'' Ms Gordon said last night that both the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development crackdown on so-called "harmful tax regimes'' and the UK rewrite of relations with its remaining colonies had been discussed.

And she added -- if the UK wanted to assist Bermuda -- they should lobby the OECD to make sure Bermuda, which has consistently insisted its financial hands are clean, is kept off any international hitlist.

Ms Gordon said: "I told them I didn't know what the new Government's position on the OECD was as they haven't taken a position one way or another since they were elected in November.'' Ms Gordon is on record as welcoming the prospect of easier access to the UK for work and study -- but coming out against a two-way street on residency.

But she added the closeness of the US, its TV and films and the type of international business attracted to Bermuda meant its influence "was bound to permeate Bermuda''.

Ms Gordon said the delegation had "perceptions about the UBP which had obviously been fed to them from a PLP perspective''.

She added: "They spoke of the `40 Thieves' as though they were alive and well -- that's certainly not the case now, although it may have been 30 years ago.'' Ms Gordon said that she replied "absolutely'' when asked if the UBP could form another Government.

Mr. Davidson said last night: "There was no time to deal with any material in detail, but we explored the impact of the election defeat of the UBP and the way in which politics in Bermuda might develop in the future.'' It is understood the White Paper on the Overseas Territories is still in the final stages of drafting and no new details have been released, while the OECD probe continues.

The Royal Gazette reported last year, however, that full UK passport rights as well as the right to live and work in Britain were set to be offered to Bermudians and the citizens of the other Overseas Territories.

And UK Parliamentary insiders at that time dismissed fears that the UK might insist on a two-way street on residency.

Mr. Davidson said: "The issues about citizenship are all very clear -- I think we will be able to address reciprocity and allowing Bermudians into for access to college and work experience.

"And I would like to see that done at the rates UK students pay, not overseas students fees.'' Last night some of the UK CPA delegates visited the PLP's Alaska Hall HQ to meet the party's Central Committee.

Today, the group will tour Bermuda College and CedarBridge Academy before going to a private reception hosted by the UBP.

And tomorrow, they will pay an official call on Premier Jennifer Smith at Cabinet Office before visiting St. George's and the St. David's area.

FEES -- Ian Davidson Graphic file name: IANNDDA