§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department what the latest figures are for the declaration of membership of the freemasons among the judiciary, together with the numbers from whom replies have not yet been received; and if he will break down the figures between(a) the professional judiciary and magistrates and (b) men and women. [78053]
§ Mr. HoonAll serving members of the judiciary were invited by the Lord Chancellor to declare on a voluntary basis whether they were freemasons. Responses are still being processed and analysed. The latest figures available are given in the table, but these remain subject to revision in the light of new replies and further analysis. In addition, all new appointees to judicial office are now required as a condition of appointment to state whether or not they are freemasons, and if not, required to notify the Lord Chancellor if they subsequently join. Declarations obtained from new appointees are also in the process of being collated.
Register of freemasons among judiciary: interim responses Professional judiciary Lay magistracy 1 Forms sent out 5,290 24,964 Declared non-mason 4,744 20,300 Declared mason: Male 260 1,176 Female 3 32 Status not disclosed: Male 65 413 Female 5 186 No reply received 213 2,857 1 Excluding the Duchy of Lancaster