HL Deb 14 July 1999 vol 604 c50WA
Lord Burnham

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What evidence there is for the statement published in standing station orders and shortly to be issued as a Defence Council instruction that "organisations of a secretive nature such as the Freemasons" carry a "perception of preferential treatment and undue influence". [HL3485]

Lord Gilbert

We have no direct evidence that membership of organisations such as the Freemasons brings preferential treatment or undue influence. Nevertheless, there is a perception that this might be the case. A recent parliamentary inquiry prompted the department to publish guidance in order to clarify the position and to remind personnel that, although membership of the Freemasons and similar organisations is not prohibited, membership should not be promoted or encouraged. It is possible that involvement in such organisations carries with it the risk of establishing disparate loyalties which may have a destabilising influence on the chain of command. We want recruitment to the Armed Forces to be from the widest cross-section of society and advancement to be clearly seen to be based on merit.