Government yesterday rushed through an Act designed to loosen rules on who can drive private cars -- despite Opposition anger at the breaking of long-standing Parliamentary convention.

Transport Minister Ewart Brown said the new law -- allowing people who are not members of a household to legally drive an owner's car -- ought to become law before the Christmas party season kicks off.

But the bill -- tabled only last week -- broke the convention that two full sessions of the House should pass before a new bill is debated, sparking fury on the Opposition benches.

The bill, however, passed after Speaker Stanley Lowe ruled that House rules only stipulated a four-day gap between a bill being placed on the table and coming up for its second and third readings.

Dr. Brown said: "There has been some discussion of this amendment and why Government wants to amend the law.'' Dr. Brown said many people are already breaking the law by driving someone else's car.

And he added the law as it stood made someone who offered to drive a person who had been drinking home a criminal.

Dr. Brown said: "We believe that by removing this restriction we will improve road safety.'' And he added: "This is not contentious -- this is a service to the people and makes legal what is now technically illegal.'' But Shadow Transport Minister Erwin Adderley said there was "some concern'' in the UBP caucus over a possible impact on the second-hand car market.

He added: "Had we been advised of this before Thursday, we could have discussed it in our caucus. It was not brought up and we didn't have an opportunity to explore it.'' Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons said: "I would be embarrassed as Minister of Transport to put this down -- it's a shambles, basically.

"But other than that, I have no objection.'' Shadow Health Minister Kim Young said: "Law and good order is made by having rules, regulations and policies adhered to.

"Putting aside these rules when it's convenient is not the way to go.'' And Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said: "The reason we introduced a two-week period between a bill being tabled and the debate was so Members could review the bill and so Members can have the chance to discuss it with interested parties and their constituents.'' Walter Lister (PLP) -- who sits on the Motor Insurance Board -- added: "I want the Opposition to have their say, but we must listen to the people in the community.'' Shadow Legislative Affairs Minister John Barritt said the Opposition did not want to indulge in spoiling tactics.

He added: "Had we been approached earlier in the week, we might have reached a satisfactory solution.'' Legislative Affairs Minister Lois Browne Evans said: "The Transport Minister has tried to bring this bill up before Christmas for valid reasons.

"This is a bill drafted by their administration and they know it.'' But Shadow Works and Engineering Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge hit back: "We only ask for common courtesy -- Government has been around for five weeks and they haven't come up with any bills yet.

"I've been watching very carefully -- they don't know what they're doing yet.'' MPs also passed a $10 million supplementary appropriations bill for the last financial year.

Much of the cash, however, was in transfers from one Ministry to another as a result of the last Government's shake-up of Ministerial responsibilities.

C.V. (Jim) Woolridge Graphic file name: CVJIM Dr. Ewart Brown Graphic file name: EWBROW