MPs will return the House of Assembly this morning to finish debating the 2016/17 Budget.

The final two debates, which will focus on the ministries of Community, Culture, and Sport and Economic Development, have been delayed for seven days due to last week’s withdrawal of labour. The protest against the Bermuda Government’s immigration reform plans saw large crowds gather around Parliament for five days in opposition to the Pathways to Status initiative.

On Monday the protesters locked arms around the perimeter of the building preventing MPs access to the House to table the proposed changes. As a result the final Budget debate, which is scheduled to last for eight hours, had to be delayed a week and is expected to begin this morning at 10am.

The Budget has to be debated before the beginning of the new financial year on April 1.

Once the entire budget has been passed by the House of Assembly it is sent to the Senate to be debated.

Senators will also return to work today and gather at the Senate chambers.

The day’s schedule includes a series of motions as well as the first reading of several new bills including the The Referendum (Same-Sex Relationships) Act 2016.

The order of business also includes a general economic debate.