§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 17 July,Official Report, column 904, how many magistrates in the Duchy 668W of Lancaster included freemasonry when asked by advisory committees to list their outside interests. [38411]
§ Mr. FreemanAdvisory committees do not keep these statistics. Candidates are asked to give their outside interests, which are discussed during interviews. Advisory committees ask for this information to learn about a candidate's involvement in the local community. Some candidates volunteer the fact that they are freemasons.
Being a freemason is neither a qualification nor a disqualification for appointment as a magistrate.
On appointment, all magistrates take a judicial oath to administer justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will.