Senators are today set for a marathon session -- with controversial Acts expected to dominate the day.

And -- if Opposition Senators and the Independents present a united front -- contentious Progressive Labour Party Acts could be blocked for up to a year for the first time under the new Government.

The bid to allow a funeral home to operate its own limousine service -- which sparked a taxi protest outside the House of Assembly -- is set to spark an aggressive debate.

And a bid to increase the rent level at which Government controls kick in and bring more houses under rent control, following a massive revaluation of annual rateable values, is also likely to generate a war of words.

But a hard-hitting report by the official Auditor into Government's control of the public purse strings covering the financial years 1996 and 1997 will put the Opposition on the defensive. And -- if the Upper House gets that far -- a bid to allow managers to join the same union as the rank-and-file, although with a separate bargaining unit, will also generate a lot of heat.

Government Senate leader Milton Scott said last night it was intended to plough through the massive 17-Act agenda at a single sitting.

But he admitted Senate might have to adjourn and schedule another meeting in order to get to grips with all the legislation.

And he did not rule out altering the running order of the agenda to get major legislation -- like several items dealing with financial legislation -- over and done with first.

Sen. Scott said: "We will set the agenda accordingly in terms of what has to be done -- but you'll have to wait and find out.'' But Opposition Senate leader Maxwell Burgess predicted fireworks -- and a day which will see only about a third of the items on the order paper dealt with.

And Sen. Burgess singled out the rent control amendment, the funeral limousine Act and the labour relations law as hot topics for the day.

The rent control amendment also axes the exemption of homes built after a certain date from rent control.

He said: "What we expect, and what the people of Bermuda deserve, are some answers.

"We want to know where the demand for funeral limousines came from and how many people are on the waiting list for homes as we speak.

"And clearly, the change in the law regarding labour relations and unionisation is a major issue.'' And Sen. Burgess predicted: "We'd like to get through all of it -- but I would have thought we would be hard-pressed to get through much more than a third.'' Milton Scott