A Hansard system of reporting and a Parliamentary website are to go live this year, as Government tries to improve public access to information.

Minister without Portfolio Zane DeSilva announced the moves in the House of Assembly as he outlined the 2010-11 Budget for the Legislature.

This independent Department provides administrative and professional support services to the House of Assembly, Senate and Parliamentary Committees, as well as Government departments and officers.

This year's budget for the Legislature is $4,904,000, a rise of three percent or $124,000, on the previous year. Within this Budget, funding for Administration has risen by a quarter, or $208,000, to $1,063,000.

Mr. DeSilva said this was to cover the costs of installing a computerised Hansard recording system. "We hope to go live in May 2010," he said.

"The objective of the Administration section is to continue with the implementation of the Hansard recording system, to bring Bermuda in line with providing the public with information that should be readily available and up-to-date, as opposed to outdated audio equipment, to report Parliamentary sessions," he said.

Commenting on the "outdated equipment", the Minister said: "This has caused significant difficulties for Members of Parliament and members of the public to gain accurate information in respect of the proceedings and important debates."

He added: "What is needed is a qualified Hansard editor and transcribers. A website which posts all the Orders of the Day, contact details for Members, Committee reports, etc., is also a priority for the 2010-11 fiscal year."

There are also plans to set up a library information and reference service in the Sessions House.

Mr. DeSilva also outlined the 2010-11 Budget for the Office of the Auditor General.

Outlining the importance of the Non-Ministry Department, he said: "No other organisation has the same type of independence and objective assessments of the overall performance and accountability of the Government.

"The Auditor General helps Parliament to hold Government to account for its management of public funds and contributes to a well performing public sector."

This year the Office of the Auditor General has been allocated $3,305,000 an extra $332,000 or 11 percent, on 2009-10.

On April 1, the AG's Office is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Internal Audit Department.

"The Auditor General and Internal Audit offices will join forces to promote good governance," said Mr. DeSilva.

The Office will also gain three more staff auditors in 2010-11, at an additional salary costing of $259,000.

Shadow Minister for Legislative Reform and Justice, John Barritt, welcomed the additional funding and staff but said there should be more follow-up action on AG reports by the Public Accounts Committee.

The PAC's role is to review the reports and to make subsequent Parliamentary recommendations.

Mr. Barritt said: "The process of accountability is through the Public Accounts Committee and it's a pity we don't have any output measures there.

"The last review (of an AG report) as far as I'm aware, was in 2005-6. As far as I'm concerned, there can be no accountability until we get up-to-date.

"They (the PAC) should be meeting on an ongoing basis so people are brought to account and we can deal with things prospectively.

"The reports of the Auditor General aren't just meant to be dumped in Parliament. We need to make them work for the people of this country. But without an output measure they tend to fall off the radar.

"They need to get on the radar so we can underscore the importance of that work."

Mr. Barritt said he was also "embarrassed" that Bermuda had not yet got a Hansard Parliamentary recording system in place.

"I'm embarrassed that we're not there yet," he said.

"How ironic that we don't have a website yet the Corporation of Hamilton does. This is really early 20th century stuff."