MPs are expected to discuss just one minor piece of legislation during today's House of Assembly session — the Bermuda Housing Amendment Act 2010.

Opposition Whip Cole Simons said the bill was little more than a housekeeping measure and questioned why other more important matters were not also on the order paper. "That's all the legislation they can do?" he asked. "From an administrative point of view and an efficiency point of view, we should have work lined up so we can address our problems head on."

The UBP MP said the House should be looking at legislation to tackle escalating crime and problems in education, as well as debating bills already tabled this session such as the Public Access to Information (PATI) Act 2010.

"Public access to information could be debated," he said. "There has been dialogue up and down the Island. What's the hold up? That improves governance. That improves transparency. We can't just defer, defer, defer."

The PATI Act was tabled by Premier Ewart Brown on May 7, along with the controversial Media Council Act 2010. Either could be debated at any time before the summer but are not expected to be taken up today.

Also on the order paper but not likely to be discussed is the Court of Appeal Amendment Act, which would give the prosecution the same right of appeal as the defence in criminal cases. It was tabled in November by John Barritt, the Opposition spokesman on legislative and public administration reform.

Motions tabled by Dr. Brown on two reports — one by the Boundaries Commission and the other on climate change — are not expected to be debated today nor is a motion from deputy Opposition leader Trevor Moniz on land licences.