A committee to look at politicians' outside interests has been given the green light.

But already Senators and MPs have stated they do not want their affairs open to public scrutiny -- as they are in many other countries to avoid potential conflicts of interests.

The Senate yesterday agreed to set up the committee, but both Government and Opposition members expressed fears about having their interests available to the electorate.

Government Senate Leader Milton Scott , who supported the motion, said there was no way part-time Senators should be made to declare assets or directorships.

And, he said, if they were, then Senators should be made full-time members of the Legislature.

"Does anyone want all the details concerning their financial affairs laid out where anyone can walk off the street to see,'' he said.

"Do I believe in disclosure? Yes. Do I believe in it being done in a way which dignifies public office, yes,'' he said.

"I do not want my affairs all over the daily rag, then their suggestions over conflict of interest. We don't want to see witch-hunts going on in the daily media in terms of individuals lives and Ministries.'' The Progressive Labour Party, in its election platform, set out two of its objectives as "accountability and transparency in all areas of governance'' and "Government in the sunshine of public scrutiny''.

Sen. Scott , who is also the Education Minister. suggested a watered down version, whereby any member of the public who had a query over conflict of interest, made an application to a Registrar who investigated it and then reported back whether or not there was any basis for the claim.

"Unless we are full-time members of the Legislature, I will not disclose my income to anyone,'' he added. "For the $53,000 I get each year as a Minister) and for the $21,000 you get here (as a Senator), to want to know what type of underwear you have on, it is not fair.'' Supporting the motion, Opposition Senate Leader Maxwell Burgess said an open register was not the way he wanted to go forward.

He said such a move could lessen the dignity of public offices, and could encourage the public to look at members of the Cabinet with a jaundiced view.

"The Government would do well to set off by reassuring the public there is a process in place that ought to be done with the dignity it deserves,'' he said.

Independent Senators Jeanette Cannonier and Walwyn Hughes backed the setting up of the Joint Select Committee on a Register of Members Interests.

Senate President Alf Oughton said it would be some time before there was any material coming from the committee.

"There is a lot of discussions to be done before producing the final document,'' he said.

The committee, which has been set up, is already in trouble after disagreements between members.