that the Premier misled MPs over a major Civil Service review, Shadow Legislative Affairs spokesman John Barritt said yesterday.

And he added: "I think the record shows and supports the view that, whether intentionally or not, the Premier misled us -- thanks in large part to Tourism Minister David Allen, who let the cat out of the bag.'' Mr. Barritt hit back after Premier Jennifer Smith said last Friday that the Opposition had twisted her words to score political points -- and drew a sharp line between "comment'' and "recommendation'' in relation to the review's positions.

The row broke out after Mr. Allen spoke of changes to Cabinet and Parliament in relation to the review in a speech in London.

Mr. Barritt said in the House that the impression given was that the Civil Service review was "not going to involve Parliament and the Cabinet''.

He said yesterday the transcript had shown the Premier said: "However, I do know that it would be outside of the Civil Service review's team to examine anything to do with the constitution of Bermuda. They examined the role of the Civil Service.'' She added: "If in that the Minister, I can only assume because I don't know what was in The Royal Gazette , was alluding to any change within the Ministries, changes of names, and changes of title, and changes of how departments within those Ministries operate, I would expect it to be a part of the review process...'' The review -- leaked after the clash in the House last month -- discussed long-standing Progressive Labour Party policy to move toward a smaller Parliament with single-seat constituencies and more evenly-sized electoral areas. The review noted that was outside their terms -- but said the arguments in favour appeared "incontrovertible''.

And the review team added that they "understood that in pressing for this constitutional change Bermuda would be very much pushing at an open door and that the opportunity to effect this change by means of UK legislation may emerge very soon''.

The review did recommend a cut from 13 part-time Ministers to eight full-time ones and the merging of Ministries -- a power granted to the Premier under the Constitution.

Mr. Barritt said: "I thought it important to obtain a tape of what was said...in view of the allegations that I and the Opposition were engaged in innuendo, half-truths and that we were twisting the Premier's words.

"I asked some pretty direct questions and I did not get direct answers. I think the Opposition Leader was being charitable when she said the Premier was `being economical with the truth'. It was incorrect to give the impression that the Civil Service review dealt only with reform within the Civil Service.'' The battle broke out after Mr. Allen told a meeting of the Bermuda Society in London that the review would look at the size of Parliament and Cabinet "with a view to how, through such constitutional changes, we may better serve the people of Bermuda...''.

Mr. Allen later said he had inadvertently given the wrong impression when he "condensed several points in one paragraph''.

John barritt UBP: `Intentionally or not, the Premier misled us on Civil Service review.'