The PLP is not planning to punish backbenchers Wayne Perinchief and Randy Horton for voting against a bill presented by Premier Ewart Brown in the House of Assembly.

The pair spoke out on March 17 against legislation which would have allowed Deputy Premier Paula Cox to raise her salary from $100,000 to $150,000 and helped to defeat it by 14 votes to 12.

But PLP press officer Wentworth Christopher told The Royal Gazette last night: "I would think it's fair to say at this juncture, no punitive action is being considered."

Former Education Minister Mr. Horton revealed that he and Mr. Perinchief were asked to attend a meeting at Alaska Hall last night by the PLP's executive committee but it was cancelled at short notice.

"I don't even know who was going to be at the meeting," he said. "It was a meeting in reference to what had taken place on the floor of the House.

"I don't know why or what was the angle. We were asked to come to a meeting and, as respectable parliamentarians, I would have gone.

"I think that they may have some concerns and want to talk to us about them. That's all right, that's no problem."

He said the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Amendment Act was not subject to a "three-line whip" requiring Government MPs to vote in favour of it.

"We did what we thought was right," said Mr. Horton. "If you do what's right and in the interests of other people, you have no need to be worried."

A whip is a voting instruction issued to MPs by their party. The Westminster parliamentary system uses single, two-line and three-line whips, the latter being the strictest instruction to attend and vote in a particular way.

MPs Mark Pettingill and Darius Tucker were suspended from the Shadow Cabinet in June for defying a three-line whip to vote for a motion of no confidence in Dr. Brown's Government.

Mr. Christopher said last night: "I don't know anything about a three-line whip or anything like that. Within the party there will, of course, be differing opinions.

"If opinions are expressed, particularly in the House, at variance with the majority of the members, we try to get an understanding of what the position is."

Asked if the backbenchers were invited to a meeting, he said: "That is probably one of the options that was considered.

"All members of Parliament within the party are afforded an opportunity to express their views frankly."

He added: "If a matter arises that is a party matter, it will be discussed within the party. A determination would be made. If that determination would be in the public interest [to know], it would be disseminated to the public."

Mr. Perinchief had no comment. PLP chairman Anthony Santucci said: "I can't comment on party policy."