§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that freemasonry does not exert secret influence in local government; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 2 May 1989]: The national code of local government conduct contains provisions aimed at such matters. We have set up a working group with the local authority associations to review the code, which will be given statutory status by the Local Government and Housing Bill. This will, no doubt, be one of the problems to be considered by the group.