§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many letters were sent to magistrates in the Duchy as part of the exercise to establish a voluntary register of freemasons; when the letters were sent; and if he will break down the total between(a) declared masons, (b) declared non-masons, (c) those who refused to indicate their status and (d) those from whom no reply was received, distinguishing in each case between men and women. [83497]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamAll magistrates in Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside were sent a proforma at the end of last year asking them to declare whether or not they were Freemasons.
From the 11 Benches in Lancashire:
74: magistrates declared that they were Freemasons
674: magistrates stated that they were not Freemasons
13: magistrates declined to give this information
295: magistrates did not return the proforma
From the 11 Benches in Greater Manchester:
122: magistrates declared that they were Freemasons
1,557: magistrates stated that they were not Freemasons
20: magistrates declined to give this information
290: magistrates did not return the proforma
From the 6 Benches in Merseyside:
61: magistrates declared that they were Freemasons
819: magistrates stated that they were not Freemasons
28: magistrates declined to give this information
137: magistrates did not return the proforma.
58WBenches were not asked to differentiate between men and women. They have been asked to provide this breakdown.