Eleventh hour notice on topics for debate in the Upper House was last night slammed by top Opposition Senator Milton Scott.

The Opposition Leader in the Senate hit out after being told only yesterday afternoon that today's new session will kick off with a debate on women's rights.

Sen. Scott said: "We are starting off again not having a clear understanding of what's going to be debated.'' He added: "We will have to reply -- but we haven't been given much time.'' But Government Senate Leader ET (Bob) Richards said the Task Force Report on Women's Issues had been unveiled by Sen. Yvette Swan in June last year.

He said: "It's been hanging around for a long time -- it's not as if it just appeared and we sprung it on everybody.

"Members have had a chance to read it, while I understand we notified the other side on short notice.'' He added: "Senator Scott can say what he wants but there has been lots of time to study this particular report.'' The news came after Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ernest DeCouto, asked Government Whips last Friday to co-operate to allow maximum notice of upcoming debates to allow MPs on both sides to prepare themselves for debate and to discuss matters in the respective party caucuses.

Mr. DeCouto said yesterday a week or so of notice was normal in most Commonwealth countries.

He added: "We are trying to improve the management of the House and make sure the Whips work together.

"It makes for more effective management of the House and possibly gives a better debate on the topic.'' Mr. DeCouto told the House that agreement had been reached that House Leaders and Whips would give at least 48 hours written notice in advance of any orders of the day they wanted taken up at the next sitting.

The same procedure will also apply to Private Members' Bills and motions.

Sen. Richards said: "The Speaker has made a ruling for the House of Assembly -- no such ruling has been made in the Senate.'' Senate President Albert Jackson said he had only been informed of the orders of the day yesterday, as well.

And he confirmed short notice of orders of the day had periodically been a problem over the years.

But he ruled out any formal attempt to get longer notice for the agenda for the Upper House at this stage.

He said: "It's something which can be handled internally, unless there is any resistance on the Government side.'' But he added: "It's important that the Government side appreciates the need to keep Members of Senate as informed as possible to allow adequate preparation for the debates to take place.'' The Task Force report is expected to take up most of the day's Senate proceedings.

But Sen. Scott warned that the first motion to adjourn of the session -- a free-for-all where Members can raise almost any issue they choose -- would be "a hot one.''