Government's claim that months-long payment delays were because of a "clerical bungle''.

The secretary, who asked not to be named, accused the Health Minister of making her the "scapegoat''.

In a letter to The Royal Gazette she said she took "great offence'' to the Hon. Quinton Edness' explanation of the problem and claimed it was more of an "administrative bungle''.

Mr. Edness yesterday admitted the problem was partially administrative. But he denied his Ministry was to blame.

"I'm saying that a number of bills went unpaid because they were not sent on to be processed,'' he said. "I do not know who the culprit was.'' He added, though, that it was the responsibility of the committee's staff to send bills it approves payment of to the Accountant General.

Mr. Edness last week said the problem had been solved with the hiring of a new secretary and more advice being given to the office by the Ministry's staff.

But the former secretary said: "The legal accounts were being processed but the powers that be were not paying the bills. In my position I was not authorised to pay bills.

"When I came to the job I inherited problems. I requested and received an assistant. However, in March, 1992, she was abruptly taken from me.

"I ran the office single-handedly and as efficiently as I could, given the circumstances, until my resignation in August, 1992 -- not due to any pressure from my employer but to return to school to pursue a masters degree ...

"I refuse to allow myself to be used as the scapegoat when Mr. Edness, the lawyers and those in authority know exactly where the blame belongs -- with the Ministry and its system of payments.'' Mr. Edness conceded the system was under review. But he said, "I do not believe the problem was the blame of the Ministry at all.'' Disgruntled lawyers said earlier this month that their firms were being driven into the red because of the hold up -- reported to have been as long as 12 months in one case.

Mr. Tim Marshall and Mr. Phil Perinchief threatened to withdraw from the Legal Aid system.

Information Services Minister the Hon. Sen. Mike Winfield immediately launched an "in-depth'' study of the system. A report is expected this week.