Hundreds of people attended a public meeting to hear Cabinet Ministers quizzed on the annual Budget last night.International business (IB), tourism, pensions, welfare, illegal workers and Ministers’ salaries were some of the issues which came up at the two-hour session at Number Six Shed in Hamilton.Eleven Ministers took part in the forum and spent more than an hour outlining spending plans for their Ministries for 2011/12 before ten members of the public got to ask questions.One woman asked what Bermuda was doing to lure back international companies which had left the Island.Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Kim Wilson said following a recent economic forum with stakeholders, her Ministry was preparing an “information paper” for Cabinet on work permits.She said almost 68 percent of current work permit holders had received waivers and/or extensions and that the “dialogue” with business would continue.Business Development and Tourism Minister Patrice Minors said she had met with innumerable stakeholders since being appointed to Cabinet in November.She said though IB was a well-oiled industry it could be diversified and Government was looking at ways to make that happen.Ms Minors said the Island had to promote its regulatory standards as it competed on the world stage for business.Several questions concerned local entertainers and what efforts were being made to help them.Ms Minors said she was committed to encouraging hotels to offer local entertainment.She said the Bermuda Music Festival had been “nixed” and the plan was to put Bermuda’s own artists back into the tourism product.There was a question about whether Financial Assistance was being abused by some and an assurance that Government was looking into initiatives to ensure that didn’t happen.Senator Wilson said the Department of Labour and Training would work with the Department of Financial Assistance to assess whether those applying for benefits were capable of work.She said if they were, Labour and Training would help them find employment and their benefits would be adjusted accordingly.Premier Paula Cox responded to a question about how pensions were being managed. She said the PLP Government increased contributions to make up for unfunded liabilities dating back to 1981.She added that there was a continual review and assessment of the funding position.One man asked who benefited most from the public purse, adding in his view it was members of Government.Ms Cox said an independent panel determined the salaries paid to legislators, to ensure those benefiting were not “judge and jury in their cause”.About 300 people attended the meeting. Another forum on the Budget is expected to be announced shortly.l Useful website: www.gov.bm