British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has ruled out French-style representation in the UK House of Commons for Bermuda and the other colonies.

But he said that better representation for a "regular dialogue'' was on the cards for the White Paper on Overseas Territories, due to be unveiled next month.

And he added: "In preparing the White Paper, we have consulted closely..we believe that they will broadly welcome our proposals.'' Mr. Cook spoke out after fellow Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay asked if "it was not time'' for the Blair Government to "address the democratic deficit'' in the Overseas Territories.

Mr. Mackinlay said that the Overseas Territories -- "whose Parliament is this place and whose Foreign Secretary is my Right Honourable Friend'' -- had "no access to Westminster.'' And he asked if it was not time that the UK followed France, Holland, Spain and the US, which allow representation in their national legislatures to overseas possessions.

But Mr. Cook said: "There is not universal demand from the Overseas Territories for such representation, primarily because we have much stronger decentralisation for their Government than is practised in France, which retains some central control.'' He insisted, however: "I assure my Honourable Friend that the people continue to have direct access to myself and my Ministers.

"And one of the proposals in the White Paper is to provide a better structure for more regular dialogue.'' But Mr. Cook, speaking on the floor of the House of Commons on Tuesday, refused to be drawn further on the contents of the White Paper.

Colchester MP Bob Russell said the tiny colony of St. Helena had been "ejected from the British family'' against its wishes through changes in the UK nationality law in 1981.

And he asked Mr. Cook for an assurance that it would be allowed back in "before the millenium.'' Mr. Cook said: "I can give the Honourable gentleman an assurance that we will publish the White Paper in the week commencing March 15.'' He added: "He will understand that I cannot anticipate what may be in the contents of that White Paper.'' But Mr. Cook signalled the likelihood that the UK Government plans to give full citizenship to the Overseas Territories -- without a two-way street on right of residence.

He said: "I look forward to answering a question on the same subject come that day.'' The Royal Gazette revealed last year that Britain was set to return to the pre-1980s position on citizenship -- before the second-class British Dependent Territories Citizen passports were brought in.

But Britain may still require concessions on human rights -- like the removal of hanging and flogging from Bermuda's statute books -- as a condition so it can stay within its international treaty obligations.