spokeswoman Ms Cheryl Pooley to be more careful checking her facts.

He was hitting back after NLP accusations that Government had shut Opposition parties out of preparations for the proposed Drug Commission's board.

"The NLP claimed that the Government has refused to recognise that it will have a legal responsibility to consult the Opposition over appointments to the proposed Drug Commission,'' said Mr. Edness.

"This is not true. In fact, the Government is doing more than the law requires. Although there is only one official Opposition party, the Government has already and will continue to consult both the NLP and the Progressive Labour Party over these appointments.

"The truth of the matter is that we have already consulted both parties over the membership of the interim steering committee, and appointed those individuals they recommended.'' The selection process in legislation was the one recommended in the Archibald report and had been debated by MPs. He said that Ms Pooley "really should take more care to check her facts''.