Written question asked by David Kidney (Labour) on Monday, 7 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 February 2000. It was answered by David Lock (Labour) on Monday, 14 February 2000 on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department.

Lord Chancellors Dept

Question: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, how many (a) magistrates and (b) judges in England and Wales are freemasons. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) magistrates and (b) judges in England and Wales are freemasons. [109439] Mr. Lock: The latest provisional figures available for full-time and part-time judges and judicial office-holders and lay magistrates are given in the following table. These figures are subject to revision in the light of further analysis and changes in the composition of the judiciary. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Professional Judiciary {1} Lay Magistracy {2} Masons 268 1,207 Non-masons 4,894 20,308 Not disclosed 75 597 Not replied/not recorded 470 2,852 Total 5,707 {3}24,964 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. {1} Position for post-holders as at 30 September 1999. These figures include both responses to the voluntary questionnaire sent to serving office-holders in July 1998 and information provided on initial appointment. {2} Position for post-holders as at 1 October 1998. These figures relate to the voluntary questionnaire. {3} Excludes Justices of the Peace in the Duchy of Lancaster.

Secondary information