Mr. WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to legislate to require(a) police officers, (b) members of the judiciary and magistrates, (c) counsel and solicitors, (d) CPS prosecutors, (e) probation and (f) prison officers to disclose publicly their membership of secret societies. [1919]
§ Mr. IngramThere are no present plans to so legislate.
The Home Affairs Committee Report on Freemasonry in the Police and the Judiciary was published in March this year. Mr right hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Home Office has recently advised the clerk of the Committee that the issues in the report are being addressed in consultation with other Departments, including the Northern Ireland Office, with the aim of making a substantive response by the end of August.
Mr. WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to require secret societies to publish registers of their members; what assessment she has made of the potential threat to members of such societies from the publication of such registers; and if she will make a statement. [1920]
§ Mr. IngramThere are no plans to require secret societies to publish registers of their members. Consequently there has been no assessment made of the potential threat to members of such societies from the publication of such registers.