Parliament will cotton onto a new trend in the New Year and officially adopt Bermuda shorts as formal dress for MPs.

Politicians will be allowed to wear the shorts in the House of Assembly -- once the Rules and Privileges committee accept new proposals from Speaker Stanley Lowe.

Mr. Lowe revealed he would be addressing the committee after Parliament reconvenes on January 22.

He did not confirm that he would definitely recommend the fashion switch away from long trousers for men and skirts for women.

But The Royal Gazette understands the new Speaker, who is Chairman of the committee, will come out in favour of the break with tradition.

He is privately known to favour allowing MPs to wear Bermuda shorts. His ideas would also allow women to wear trousers instead of skirts.

Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb wore black slacks during the final pre-Christmas sitting of the House last Friday.

She told The Royal Gazette that Parliament's dress code was about to change after nearly 400 years.

But Opposition MP John Barritt, who sits on the Rules and Privileges Committee, said he knew nothing of the new plan.

Mr. Lowe said: "Ms Webb was not completely correct when she said I had authorised the change.

"That matter obviously has to be considered by the Rules and Privileges Committee of the House.

"I may have some personal views but it's not my decision. I know Ms Webb is very eager but it still has to go before the committee. That will happen very early in the New Year and I will make a recommendation to the committee.

"I do have my own views on the matter and all I can say is that I will be putting them before the committee.'' New Progressive Labour Party MP Dale Butler, also on the Rules and Privileges Committee, said: "I look forward to our next meeting.

"My own personal view is that Bermuda shorts are our national and international dress and in the best interests of equality, I see no reason why women should not wear pants, slacks, trousers. ..whatever you want to call them, in the House of Assembly.

"MPs tend to be rather conservative anyway so I doubt they will show up wearing dungarees or cut-out jeans.

"The decorum and respect will still be there if our MPs are wearing Bermuda shorts.'' Ms Webb, speaking at the Progressive Labour Party's Christmas party, said: "Women will be allowed to wear pants in the House of Assembly from now on.

"It was something that was discussed in the last session but the former Speaker wouldn't allow it.

"I told the new Speaker I was going to wear pants and he was fine about it.

The guys are also going to wear Bermuda shorts now, if they want to.

"Bermuda shorts are acceptable at the corporate level. We are leaders so why shouldn't we be allowed to wear them during our official business? "Who is going to dictate to us? This is a new Bermuda. I'm a grown woman and I don't expect to be told how to dress.'' Moves to relax the dress code in Parliament had been led by Ann Cartwright DeCouto when Ernest DeCouto was Speaker.