WASHINGTON--The Senate Banking Committee will hold along-awaited hearing on insurance regulatory issues next Tuesday,and so far full details of the proceedings remain under wraps.

Industry lobbyists said the scope of the proceedings and a fullwitness list has not as yet been disclosed by committee staff.

According to one industry lobbyist, who declined to beidentified, the hearing will not focus on any pending legislationbut will discuss the problems that have been identified with thecurrent regulatory structure and what role the federal governmentshould play in future insurance regulation.

But, he said, among those invited to testify were arepresentative of the National Association of InsuranceCommissioners and the Consumer Federation of America.

"It was widely known that the committee wanted to hold a hearingon insurance regulatory issues in July; the question was when," thelobbyist said.

"That was because the problems with banks, investment banks, andsavings and loans and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. and theFederal National Mortgage Association were taking up so much of thecommittee's time," he explained.

"Clearly, with work on the legislation completed and passagenearing, they apparently felt they had the time to delve intoinsurance issues before leaving for the August recess," hecommented.