Parliament was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday.

The Independence Referendum Act 1995, the third independence referendum bill MPs have seen in the last year, was tabled by Deputy Premier the Hon. Irving Pearman. It is scheduled to be debated on March 10 or March 17.

Last year, one similar bill died after it was amended in the Senate, and another was defeated in a House vote which three Government MPs missed.

The new bill says a referendum asking: "Are you in favour of Independence for Bermuda?'' must be held by the end of this year.

While a majority of votes cast will decide the question, the referendum will only be valid if two-thirds of eligible voters turn out for the referendum.

Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade has not yet said whether his party will support the bill. If the Progressive Labour Party votes no, only three UBP MPs would have to absent themselves from the House to create a tie.

Government MPs the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto and Dr. David Dyer have already said they feel the bill is at odds with Government policy set out in a 1979 Cabinet Paper, which said "a clear indication that a majority of Bermudians supported'' Independence would be required for action. With only a two-thirds turn-out, it is still possible that a majority vote for Independence could not reflect the view of the majority of Bermudians, Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto has noted.

Mr. Trevor Moniz, another Government backbencher, has said Bermuda should not be dealing with Independence at this time.