Plans to let people dip into their private pension funds will be discussed today as Paula Cox's Budget looks set for more contentious debate in the House of Assembly.

Bermudians who meet certain criteria for hardship will have access to their pension contributions, under the National Pension Scheme (Occupational Pensions) Amendment Act, due to get its second reading this evening.

Ms Cox says the move will help unemployed people in dire financial straits who need their pension cash now rather than waiting until their retirement years.

Her Shadow counterpart Bob Richards argues this would merely create difficulties for those people further down the line, meaning they will have nothing to retire with.

Also today, MPs will debate a proposal to double the foreign currency purchase tax from 0.5 percent to one percent, which has come under fire from local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce.

The move — which will become law under the Foreign Currency Purchase Tax Amendment Act — will yield an extra $14.5 million for Government in 2010/11.

However, the Chamber's executive vice president Diane Gordon says this will translate into an increased cost on all imports, which will hurt consumers; while Jim Butterfield of food importer Butterfield & Vallis says the move will cost his company around $350,000.

Other legislation debated today will surround stamp duty and land tax, both of which Ms Cox has said will be modified to increase Government's yield.

But there's good news for taxi drivers who get tax breaks under the Payroll Tax (Taxi Services Special Exemption) Act.

Earlier in the day, the ongoing FutureCare row will take centre stage, with Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson likely to be at the forefront once more.

Health insurance is one of a number of subtopics during a five-hour Health Ministry debate kicking off in the morning.

UBP Leader Kim Swan said: "FutureCare is a programme that has the potential to offer seniors tremendous benefits, but it has been mismanaged to the point it has become discriminatory and unaffordable for many and unsustainable for the country.

"We will press for explanations for the two-tier charging that is forcing seniors to pay twice as much as others for the same coverage.

"We will explore the management of the hospital, which is primarily shouldered by overseas consultants."

The afternoon session will see debates on the Parliamentary Registrar, Auditor General and Legislature.

The Auditor General debate will not focus on the most recent attack from Larry Dennis, which is still to be assessed by the Public Accounts Committee and not for discussion in the House yet.

But Mr. Swan said: "There is much to consider in terms of strengthening the Auditor's operations and ringfencing its independence — something this Government has shown no compunction to breach when it serves its purposes."