A probe has been launched into a TV spot featuring Premier Jennifer Smith on the first 100 days of Progressive Labour Party Government.

The move came after the Opposition United Bermuda Party asked the Broadcasting Commission for a ruling on whether the TV programme was inside the legal framework for Government broadcasts.

And the Opposition has also asked independent Auditor Larry Dennis to examine the newspaper giveaway 100 Days report to see if it broke the rules on using Government resources to produce party political documents.

Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon confirmed the UBP had asked the Broadcasting Commission to look at whether two broadcasts by Premier Jennifer Smith, one on Wednesday and another scheduled for next week, were legal.

Ms Gordon said the UBP's reading of the regulations showed Government broadcasts should not last longer than 15 minutes with a maximum of one a month -- with an Opposition right to reply.

It is understood the legally-required permission from broadcasting watchdogs to air a Government TV programme was not sought either.

Ms Gordon added: "The Premier's broadcast lasted more than 20 minutes and there is another planned for next week.

"And the regulations clearly say that, without express permission, you cannot broadcast more than once a month.'' Ms Gordon added Government only yesterday officially added a $91,000-plus boost to new political Attorney General Lois Browne Evans' salary.

She said: "The new Attorney General should have been able to advise Government on how far they could go.

"You have to question if they are getting value for money from their new Attorney General.'' But last night Ms Smith brushed off the complaints by the UBP.

She said: "If you had time to pursue every claim made by the Opposition, when you look at what they did in the past, you have more time than I have.'' Premier: Broadcast was legal And she said the broadcasts and the 100 Days brochure were legal "otherwise we wouldn't have done it''.

But she added: "If they have made a complaint, I'm sure the proper authorities will discuss it.'' Ms Gordon said the old UBP Government's pre-1993 election blueprint had to be turned into a non-political five-year plan to stay within the rules for publications paid out of the public purse.

She added: "It had to have a generic look, couldn't refer to the UBP and couldn't have any connection which could tend towards the political bent of a political party.'' Ms Gordon said the 100 Days brochure used the PLP name and its party colours of green and white.

She added: "The Five Year Plan couldn't even have our party colours, sky blue.

"That's why I find it very shocking they should be allowed to use their colours and mention the PLP.

Ms Gordon said: "They even used a picture of Lois Browne Evans and her son outside the Devonshire North polling station wearing a big PLP button.'' She added that top Civil Servant Robert Horton, the Assistant Cabinet Secretary, introduced the Premier's TV spot.

Ms Gordon said: "That indicates it has to have been a Government thing -- if that's correct they are in breach of the law.

"If it's a political broadcast it can go to half-an-hour -- but we have had Civil Servants working on this and a Civil Servant introduced it.'' Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt said he had contacted Broadcasting Commission chairman Tim Marshall yesterday morning.

He added: "We view this very seriously, particularly on who funded this thing and how it appears to be to have been done wilfully and without regard for the rules.

"We need a ruling on this to make sure it doesn't happen again -- but we have to await a ruling on whether it's political or Government.

"If it were Government, there ought not to be a second installment. And if it's deemed Government, once again we have to question if Government funds have been inappropriately used.'' Premier Jennifer Smith