A ground-breaking bid to get international business to help ease the housing crisis in Bermuda is on the cards.

And it is possible the business world -- whose success has contributed to the scarcity and cost of rental homes -- could be asked to chip in to provide new housing.

Another option could be to ask international business for help in restoring the estimated 300-plus derelict homes across Bermuda.

And Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome revealed that a team from the top-rated Massachusetts Institute of Technology was currently examining population trends and housing needs for the future.

He said: "This has basically never been done before. We've had housing statistics, but no-one has done any in-depth analysis of our population.'' But Mr. Bascome was staying tight-lipped over the possibility of involving offshore companies in boosting the housing stock.

Mr. Bascome said, however: "International business impacted on the housing situation in Bermuda, this is recognised, and I think they would be happy to play a role in alleviating that problem.'' He added: "It doesn't make sense having these houses sit derelict when we're using up vacant land in only 22 square miles. We have to protect Bermuda for our children and our children's children.'' But he declined to discuss concrete proposals before he decided the time was right.

Mr. Bascome was speaking after a failed Government bid to increase the number of rent-controlled houses. An alliance of Opposition and Independent senators forced a change on Wednesday.

But the signs are that Mr. Bascome will stick to his guns over ending an exemption from rent control for homes built after mid-1983 -- a measure knocked back by Senate.

He said: "The amendment just narrowed the margins. It doesn't assist anyone.

From our point of view, it doesn't now do what we set out to do.'' And he added: "We are committed to our position -- and that's what we're committed to.'' Mr. Bascome said: "I will listen to our senators. I will then evaluate with my technical people and from there we will make a decision.'' And he added he also wanted to wait until he had a chance to discuss the problem in the party caucus.

The Progressive Labour Party have three options -- to insist on the original form of the bill and wait a year until it can be passed without the need for Senate approval, amend it in the House and send it back to Senate, or try to persuade one or more Independent senators to change their position.

Mr. Bascome said: "We will discuss the situation, look at the pros and cons -- but if our projects move at the rate we want them to move, we will have a much quicker resolution to what is intended to be the temporary situation of rent control.'' And he admitted: "I'm disappointed at what happened. I did say in the House our view is that rent control is a temporary measure.

"I'm very ambitious and I have a number of projects on the boil which will help with housing.'' Mr. Bascome predicted that an increase in the availability of housing would lead to a falling of rents across the board.