§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will ensure that the Register of Masons being compiled by the Environment Agency is made available for public scrutiny. [33023]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 6 March 1998]: The Environment Agency has asked members of its Board, chairmen of its statutory committees and all its staff to inform the Agency is they are members of the Freemasons or other secret societies. Declarations by Board members and statutory committee chairmen will be entered on the register of their interests, which is open to public inspection. Declarations by staff will inform the Agency's Board and senior management, and will be taken into account by them where appropriate. The Agency does not intend to make staff declarations public. It will make information publicly available in April 1998 on the number of staff, Board members and statutory committee chairmen who have declared that they are Freemasons.