role in his hiring as Police commissioner designate, an Opposition Senator claimed yesterday.

And reports about perks, such as a combined housing allowance of at least $7,000 for Mr. Coxall and his deputy Mr. Michael Mylod, were another source of discord for the Progressive Labour Party during the Upper House debate on the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs.

Opposition Senate leader Sen. Milton Scott who made the charges, said rumours were circulating in the community regarding them and it was time that Government was forthright.

But Labour and Home Affairs Minister the Hon. Irving Pearman said last night he could not address the housing allowance questions.

Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Mr. Alex Scott had asked formal questions about the issue in the House of Assembly and he was in the midst of preparing a response.

"I will not attempt to answer any questions prior to that.'' he said. "I will be giving my response on March 24.'' Mr. Pearman also said he had no idea whether Mr. Coxall and Lord Waddington knew each other.

"I don't know what their backgrounds are,'' he said. "The Governor was Home Secretary and Mr. Coxall has been a senior Police Officer in the United Kingdom for a number of years. It is possible that they knew each other. But I couldn't go beyond that.'' Deputy Governor Mr. Peter Willis could not be reached for comment.

Earlier in the Senate debate, Government Senate Leader the Hon. Gerald Simons said there was a "great degree of volunteerism'' in the Police Service and this fact should not be forgotten.

As an example, he pointed to P.c. Donville Yarde who was the president of a Parents Teachers Association, a scout leader, Big Brother and netball coach.

Sen. Simons said the Outward Bound and Youth Beat programmes were other examples of the Police reaching out into the community in positive ways.

Overall, Sen. Simons said 1994 was a challenging year for Police officers.

There were 10 murders in the last 14 months, a 97 per cent increase in cycle thefts, more than 600 pounds of drugs being seized and serious injuries to four Police officers.

However despite a potentially bleak picture, he said congratulations should be sent to Police Commissioner Lennett Edwards who made strides to implement much of the recommendations in the Tumin report.

Turning to the Bermuda Regiment, Sen. Simons said they were better prepared today then before the outbreak of civil disorder in 1977.

Moreover he said the Regiment trained its soldiers and officers in leadership which helped them and the broader community after they had finished their period of service.

Sen. Scott said it was good to see training programmes included in the Ministry's budget but he questioned whether this would be necessary if proper programmes were included in the schools.

He urged Government to ensure that trades such as carpentry were included in the middle schools and the new senior school as well as liberal arts.

Sen. Scott praised Bermuda Regiment commanding officer Lt. Col. David Burch whose "velvet glove and big stick approach'' to discipline were dispensed in good proportion.

Sen. Alf Oughton (Ind) praised the Bermuda Industrial Union and Stevedoring Services for reaching a contract agreement two weeks early.

He said that this was a classic example of both management and union coming to a workable agreement.

But he criticised the hotels and the BIU because they never seem to be able to negotiate free of strife.

Sen. Oughton suggested that both sides should try to iron out their problems during peacetime so that negotiations could proceed easier.

Sen. Terry Lister (PLP) meantime, recommended that companies with large numbers of non-Bermudian employees be monitored closer.

As part of this process they should be obliged to have a clearly enunciated plan to recruit Bermudians and support their advancement.

The rest of the Senate's Budget debates will be carried in Monday's newspaper.