§ Mr. BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has received from Commissioners on a requirement for elected members to the Welsh Assembly to require disclosure and declaration if they are Freemasons. [R][73187]
438W
§ Mr. MichaelThe National Assembly Advisory Group, established by my predecessor, advised that Assembly Members should have to register membership of the Freemasons but the Standing Orders Commissioners have now submitted draft standing orders which do not include a requirement on Assembly Members to register membership of the Freemasons.
I have invited comments on the Commissioners' report; in so doing, I have indicated that I am minded to incorporate the views of the National Assembly Advisory Group, that such membership should be a registrable interest, into the standing orders in their final form.