environmental budget debate of the new millennium. Yesterday's debate proceeded with little fanfare as MP's conserved their energy for when the House takes note of the Green Paper entitled Marine Resources and the Fishing Industry in Bermuda. Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson highlighted how his 152-strong Ministry will spend their $11.3 million budget over the upcoming year. Despite a three percent decrease in revenue, due mainly to the elimination of the citrus spray programme and more conservative estimates on building revenues, the overall budget of the Environment Ministry will increase by $238,000 or two percent. According to Mr. Hodgson, 70 percent of the Ministry's budget will go directly on salaries and wages, leaving very little to play with. Despite the fact that there are currently five vacancies in the Planning Department, Mr. Hodgson said the department had been productive during the past fiscal year. He said the Planning Department had prepared a draft of the City of Hamilton Plan -- a comprehensive guide for general development of the City. While it is currently being refined, Mr.

Hodgson said he hoped to publish the document in the near future. The Department has prepared a plan, in conjunction with the Flatts Development Committee, for improving Flatts Village. Mr. Hodgson said the outline included measures on dealing with traffic, and economic regeneration and now officials were investigating ways to implement these measures. Shadow Works and Engineering Minister Jim Woolridge said he hoped the proposals for Flatts did not include plans for a new bridge. Noting the expense, Mr. Woolridge said a Flatts bridge would be "biting off more than we can chew''. He said reducing the speed limit and eliminating parking were better alternatives to a costly bridge. The Minister of the Environment told MPs that his Ministry and Works and Engineering had joined forces to draft proposals for enhancing the St.

Monica's Mission area in a bid to alleviate some of the social problems in the neighbourhood. "I'm hoping that this year we will be able to go into each parish and at least identify areas that can be improved,'' he said. The Government also plans to continue carrying out further phases of the formal listing process of buildings of special architectural and historic interest.

"We have about 900 that are worthy of preservation,'' said Mr. Hodgson who admitted that he had recently begun signing the historical certificates. He said that it would be a very long process sorting through the objectors to various heritage sites since the preparation of the St. George's World Heritage Site Management Plan had diverted some of the resources away from the programme. St. George's is seeking World Heritage status from UNESCO, but before consideration can be given a management plan outlining how the town will protect its historic resources must be submitted. And in the upcoming months, the Ministry will bring forth amendments to the Dogs Act and put the finishing touches on a State of the Environment Report that will be published Environment debate But Shadow Environment Minister Gary Pitman wanted an immediate update on how the Government was progressing with its promise to rid Bermuda of asbestos -- the heat resistant building material that can be deadly if it becomes airborne.

"Asbestos is still in shipping containers at Castle Harbour,'' noted Mr.

Pitman. "What are you going to do with it?'' Government Whip Ottiwell Simmons insisted that dealing with asbestos was still a priority for the Government and assured the House that they were actively searching for an answer.

Mr. Pitman also voiced concern over the Island's water supply after noting that a number of wells in Somerset had been closed due to what he believed was sewage pollution.

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA