§ 27. Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for which public appointments to bodies dealing with Home Office responsibilities applicants are asked to indicate their membership of the freemasons. [10575]
§ Mr. HowardThe general principles governing the making of public appointments are set out in the guidance on appointments to executive non-departmental public bodies issues by the Commissioner for Public appointments. These do not require applicants to declare their membership of any organisations other than political ones.
The information sought from applicants by the Home Office when filling particular appointments is decided in each case in the light of the needs of the job and the circumstances at the time. Where appropriate, it may include information about outside interests including freemasonry but there is no list of posts to which such a requirement applies.