Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons on Wednesday blasted Shadow Minister Mr. Julian Hall for being unprepared for the debate on the Clean Air Regulations. His comments came after the Opposition moved to adjourn the debate.

"It concerns me greatly that today when we were debating what he says is important legislation, that first he turns up at the House late, then he asks me to brief him on what I said in my opening remarks, and then he has the audacity to criticise my briefing, saying I didn't give him all the details,'' said Mr. Simons.

Shadow Ministers in the PLP have advisory committees, and the one for the Environment should have a clear position on the regulations, he said.

The main public concern in the debate was "that their health be protected,'' and "the regulations proposed today are among the strictest you will find in North America.'' In technical matters like pharmaceuticals, was the public expected to be educated on every detail? "Yes -- that's what democracy means,'' Mr. Hall shouted.

"The public is not stupid,'' shouted Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade .

"To do so would cause Government to grind to a halt (and) would not be in the interests of the public,'' Mr. Simons said. He would be glad to provide a detailed briefing to members of the House, but "to suspend the debate now serves no good purpose''.

Mr. Hall then rose but was told he did not have the right of reply to his motion to adjourn the debate.

Delegated Affairs Minister the Hon. Sir John Sharpe said Mr. Hall's motion was "a rather small, certainly shallow public relations exercise on behalf of the Progressive Labour Party''.

The idea that thousands of people wanted to participate was "absolutely absurd''.

"The public, Mr. Speaker, wants clean air,'' Sir John said. "They leave it to the legislators to produce the legislation to deliver clean air. Let's proceed.'' Speaker of the House the Hon. David Wilkinson then put the question. A voice vote was inconclusive, but a recorded vote was 12 in favour and 22 opposed.

The Speaker then said the debate on the regulations would resume.

"Mr. Speaker, I hadn't finished,'' said Mr. Hall.

"I'm afraid you have,'' Mr. Wilkinson said.

All but two members of the PLP then left the chamber.

National Liberal Party Mr. Gilbert Darrell said the Minister should arrange for a central depot to collect items like contaminants that cannot be otherwise disposed of under the regulations.

And to set one standard, but to allow lower standards to be set if the Authority sees fit "seems unfair'', Mr. Darrell said.

The Hon. John Stubbs then rose, but noting Mr. Simons had also risen, asked: "Is it the suggestion that the honourable member in charge terminate the debate by closing it off now?'' He noted there were only two PLP members in the House and said the Opposition had left the House "in a most undignified, most unparliamentary manner.'' Mr. Simons then rose and addressed Mr. Darrell's points. There were hotels on the Island that burned fuel with a sulphur content of about 2.5 percent, but Belco burned fuel with much lower sulphur contents. The sulphur standard was set at 2.8 percent with the hotels in mind, but Government wanted to set a much lower sulphur standard for Belco, he said.

"We chose to set an overall standard, and then deal with individual plants at the time they come forward for licence.'' The Government hoped to make arrangements for a central depot to collect contaminants, he said.

"It is our interest to bring these regulations into force in the interest of the public health of the people of Bermuda,'' and they can be refined in future, Mr. Simons said in moving approval. There were no objections heard.

Mr. Wilkinson then addressed Independent MP Mr. Stuart Hayward , who had entered the House while Mr. Simons was speaking. "I didn't realise the Minister was exercising his right of reply,'' he said.

"`You can go into committee if you want,'' protested Mr. Lowe. `Are you proud of that?'' Mr. Hayward shouted toward the Government benches.