Alex Scott?s ministers had an hour to quiz Tony Blair on any subject they chose yesterday after the British Prime Minister attended the weekly Cabinet meeting.

They didn?t raise the prickly subject of Independence from Britain, although it was ?lightly touched on? during a dinner at Camden on Monday night, said Premier Scott.

The Prime Minister and his wife Cherie, Governor Sir John Vereker and Lady Judy Vereker, Mr. Scott and his wife Olga, and Finance Minister Paula Cox and husband Germain Nkeuleu had an informal dinner at Camden on Monday.

Mr. Scott said he is hoping Mr. Blair, who has been on a private holiday on the Island since Thursday, will meet some of Bermuda?s outstanding young people before he leaves.

After Cabinet yesterday, Mr. Blair posed for a picture with the Cabinet before taking off around 11 a.m. in the Governor?s car.

Mr. Blair declined to talk to outside Cabinet Office but Mr. Scott said: ?It was just a general conversation.

?We took advantage of the Prime Minister being here to get his views on world affairs and his perspective.

?He was very kind and allowed Cabinet members to ask him any questions that they so desired and many questions, if not all, related to international affairs.

?It was interesting and informative to hear one of the key leaders in the international sphere, and he has been extremely gracious with his time.

?He spent some time with us last night at supper at Camden and he was here with us at Cabinet.

?We were saying that if we can organise an opportunity for him to meet with one or two of our outstanding young people (it would be good) because we have made the point, and he supports us, that not all the youth are in difficulty.

?The majority are doing positive things and to underscore that we are trying between now and when he leaves to set up arrangements with some young folks who have really distinguished themselves.?

Mr. Scott has called for a national debate on Independence.

When asked if anyone raised the subject with Mr. Blair yesterday, Mr. Scott said: ?Not today. We lightly touched on it last evening but not in any depth.

?We both agree that interdependency is an equally important policy with all countries, so even as we discuss Independence here in Bermuda, we were looking to how we would relate to other countries even if we were to change our status from dependent territory to sovereign nation.

?He was saying that large states and small states everywhere are seeking out partners in the process of globalisation, and I agree.?

Mr. Blair visited St. George?s yesterday afternoon and toured the town with Mayor E. Michael Jones and the Governor. He dined with film star and Bermuda resident Michael Douglas on Saturday and had dinner at The Reefs on Sunday night.

Earlier, the Blairs spent some time on a boat owned by Bermuda lawyer and acting Assistant Justice Justin Williams.

The Mail on Sunday newspaper took pictures of Mr. Blair on the boat, under a front page headline: ?Where?s Blair?? ? accusing him of ?sunning himself on a luxury yacht? while British soldiers were being killed in Iraq. The Prime Minister has found time for sport, playing tennis three times with tennis coach Sam Maybury at Government House and a football with his sons Euan and Nicky in an 11-a-side match at Bernard Park.

Through his Peace and Tolerance campaign, Mr. Maybury knows the Governor and it was Sir John who asked him to play Mr. Blair.

He beat Mr. Blair 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 and 4-0 in the games, but he described the Prime Minister as a ?B plus? player.

?I knew he was on the Island and I had a little figment in my mind that it might be him when the Governor asked me to come to Government House, so I was a little prepared,? said Mr. Maybury.

?I have played with so many celebrities so I added him to my list, but I was pleasantly excited.

?What I like to do in tennis is make everyone happy and it was mission accomplished when he asked me back.

?At the end of the game he was beginning to express himself and said ?this is great exercise, great company?.?

The Prime Minister has a determined streak when it comes to sports as well as politics, Mr. Maybury revealed.

At one point Mr. Blair was leading 3-0, but Mr. Maybury pulled it back to a 4-3 lead which prompted the Prime Minister to shout ?Finish me off, finish me off, I never give up?.

He said the Prime Minister then asked him to organise the football match that he played in for 30 minutes with his sons.

He also rated Mr. Blair a ?B plus? footballer.

?He reads the game well and makes space and probably made one mistake in the 30 minutes he was playing,? he said

?He lays the ball off early and moves to areas to receive it. At one point he snaked between two players. He?s skill on the tennis court and skill on the football field and he?s got a beautiful attitude.?

Mr. Blair is due to meet United Nations Secretary general Kofi Annan in New York tomorrow and the discuss the Iraq crisis with President George W. Bush in Washington on Friday.