More than $158,800 has been notched up by Government Ministers on trips overseas in the first six months of the current financial year, it was revealed yesterday.

And the news means Government has already exceeded the annual Cabinet Office travel budget by nearly $20,000.

Topping the high-flyer list is Premier Jennifer Smith -- with a six-month total of nearly $30,000 in travelling costs.

Close behind is Ms Smith's Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. David Burch with more than $29,764 spent on trips abroad.

And third on the list is Tourism Minister David Allen -- who spent $23,246 on travelling expenses.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott, however, has spent nothing on travel since the start of the financial year in April, while Youth and Sport Minister Dennis Lister is out of the running as well, with just over $1,770 logged in travel expenses.

The news came in answer to a series of questions tabled in the House of Assembly by Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons, answered by Acting Finance Minister Alex Scott.

And he said afterwards that -- because the Tourism Ministry has a separate travel budget -- the true cost could be even higher.

Dr. Gibbons said: "What was a little unclear -- and the Acting Minister couldn't really answer, is if this is the total travel, because there was a sense that David Allen's travel was partly in this budget and partly in the tourism budget.'' And he insisted: "Our view would be this is excessive because we're not sure we've got a lot of return on that travel dollar.

"Clearly, some travel is going to be necessary -- there are things Members have to go to.'' He added that -- if Government had already rocketed over the annual travel budget -- they would have to come back to the House of Assembly for extra cash or "raid other budgeted accounts to continue to travel''.

And Dr. Gibbons said: "Our concern is also over the number of Ministers going on these trips, as well as backbenchers going too.

"I don't know if it's really necessary and whether the money could be better spent on education or housing -- the social issues which we feel are significant and still outstanding.'' Mr. Scott also revealed that a total of five flights had been booked first class -- three Ministers once each and Mr. Allen twice.

But Mr. Scott said the Progressive Labour Party Government "maintained the travel policy that was in existence under the United Bermuda Party Government'' -- which meant business class tickets for Government chiefs.

He added, however: "The answer to the question about first class travel is -- very rarely.'' when business class is not available, therefore we are put into first class.'' Dr. Gibbons also asked for confirmation of dates of the first-class travel and an assurance that business class had not been available.

Mr. Scott said: "If it would be helpful, I will tell him what colour of dress they had on -- I will try to find this out.'' And he promised: "If the Member is having difficulty remembering current policy, I will be happy to bring in a written report of the policy of this Government, which is the same as the previous.'' Government backbencher Ottiwell Simmons also leapt to the defence of the travel budget.

And he asked if "any comparison had been made with first-class travel of the current Government and the previous one''.

Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon asked Mr. Scott for details of security costs for the trips made by Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson and Turks and Caicos Chief Minister Derek Taylor, who both attended the opening of Parliament.

Mr. Scott replied that security for the two VIPs had amounted to a little over $2,170.

And he added, in response to another question from Ms Gordon, that a total of $2,780 had been spent on accommodation costs for Mr. Taylor and a dinner held for the two dignitaries during their visit to Bermuda.

The PLP's Walter Lister asked Mr. Scott if a comparative cost could be made with a conference for Overseas Territories Ministers held in Bermuda under the UBP.

Mr. Scott said: "That certainly is a pertinent and relevant question and I would be happy to report back to the House on these costs.'' But Ms Gordon said: "That was not related to security costs -- that was for a conference.''