MPs yesterday approved moves to boost the amount of compensation to victims of crime.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Amendment Act 2005 increases the maximum payout from $70,000 to $100,000.

Premier Alex Scott piloted the bill in the House of Assembly yesterday.

?The bill honours a commitment made by Government to implement recommendations for improvements to the existing compensation arrangements put forth by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board tabled during its last annual report,? the Premier said.

They are designed to help those seeking financial redress for criminal acts of violence.

The Premier also said Government has proposed the implementation of a tariff system.

The proposed new tariff will group together a number of injuries of comparable severity and allocate a financial value to each.

Proposals include increasing the maximum allowable compensation payment.

The Premier said: ?The maximum payout has not been adjusted since 1991 and to ensure this number is commensurate with today?s cost of living we have had to look at the numbers and adjust them accordingly.?

He added: ?These amendments will assure that the Board is better equipped to assist members of the public seeking recourse for injuries inflicted on them in the course of criminal acts.?

United Bermuda Party MP Trevor Moniz said Police should inform visitors of what rights they if they are victims of crime and it should be a standard operating procedure for the Police to inform them of what they may be entitle to.

He also expressed concern about why there is backlog of 107 cases being dealt with by the Board. United Bermuda Party MP John Barritt said while the measure amounted to good housekeeping the bill needed a total overhaul.

Mr. Barritt said some visitors (victims of crimes) may not be aware of what they are entitled to and the Criminal Injuries Board is not a place of last resort but a last option.

?We have to show that crime does not pay, when people commit crimes they must find the money to pay for their victims,? Mr. Barritt said. ?When a criminal is found guilty and is unable to pay their victims the judge should give direction to give less prison time if you compensate the victim and we must find ways to give incentives for criminals to pay for their crimes,? Mr. Barritt added.

United Bermuda Party MP Maxwell Burgess said: ?If you slice the face of the Premier and he is scarred forever, I want that person to live with the consequences. The individual must be responsible for their actions.?

Finance Minister Paula Cox yesterday introduced the Limited Partnership Amendment Bill 2005 amending the Limited Partnership Act 1883.

The bill removes the requirement for a person who intends to form a limited partnership in Bermuda to have to advertise his or her attentions.

The bill also removes the requirement for an exempted partnership to have to advertise any change in its name, nature of business or its general partners and brings into line share capital reduction provisions consistent with the Companies Act 1981. The legislation was passed.