§ 40. Mr. MullinTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to make freemasonry a publicly declarable interest for members of the judiciary; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe Lord Chancellor has no plans to make freemasonry a publicly declarable interest for members of the judiciary.
§ Mr. MullinDoes the Minister agree that there is nothing more corrosive of public confidence in the judiciary than the knowledge that many judges and magistrates are members of a secret society, one of whose aims is mutual self-advancement?
Mr. TaylorI have answered a similar question from the hon. Gentleman in the past. The critical thing about the judge's appointment is that he takes a judicial oath. [HON. MEMBERS: "Or she."] I beg the House's pardon—or she.
The judge takes a judicial oath which binds him to consider any interest that he may have, to observe whether it could conflict with any matter before him and to excuse himself from the bench if he considers that there is such a conflict of interest.