Minister Ewart Brown is set to insist in the House of Assembly today.

Political insiders last night said Dr. Brown will attempt to justify the larger-than-normal Peugeot cars using a clause in the law governing the size of vehicles in Bermuda.

The insider said: "He's going to try and convince people that it's in the Act.'' It is understood that the current law provides for exemptions on the strict size laws on cars in Bermuda for the Governor, Premier and US Consul.

But another section allows the Minister of Works and Engineering -- currently Alex Scott -- to approve oversized vehicles "in the public interest''.

And the insider -- who claimed the Transport Control Department (TCD) had warned that the cars were illegal -- said Dr. Brown would attempt to use that section to justify larger cars for Ministers.

The source said: "What that means is the Minister has the power to waive the rules in the public interest, like if Belco needs an oversized vehicle to come to Bermuda which is ultimately in the public interest -- not in the interest of Ministers, which is what this is.'' And the insider questioned -- if the section covered oversized vehicles -- why it was not used when Dr. Brown brought forward a bill to allow a funeral home to bring in a limousine for transporting mourners.

The source said: "There was a whole new Act for funeral limousines. If this section makes it all right, I wonder why it wasn't used then.'' Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley -- who questioned the legality of the new Minister cars earlier this year -- said: "I'm of the opinion they knew about this before I raised the question in January and I'm sure any Government worth its salt would have checked if it was right before doing anything.

"And I'm sure somewhere along the line TCD would have been able to say `this is okay' and quote the section which allowed them.

"The new cars are here and, as far as I'm aware, the new cars are on the road. And without a change to the legislation, these cars are illegal.'' And Mr. Adderley asked: "If they are illegal, why aren't they being pursued with the same vigour that they are pursuing illegal tinted windows? "There appears to be one set of rules for the Government and another for the public.

"My opinion is, if these cars are illegal, action should be taken to get them off the roads until the legislation has been changed.

"Until then, these cars are being driven illegally. The irony is we have the Minister of Transport driving about in what I'm convinced is an illegal car.''