PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE RELATING
TO THE REPORT
TUESDAY 13 APRIL 1999
Members present:
Mr Chris Mullin, in the Chair
| Mr Robin Corbett | Mrs Janet Dean
|
| Mr Nick Hawkins | Mr Martin Linton
|
| Mr David Winnick |
|
***
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned
till Tuesday 20th April at quarter past Ten o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 19 MAY 1999
Members present:
Mr Chris Mullin, in the Chair
| Mr Robin Corbett | Mrs Janet Dean
|
| Mr Gerald Howarth | Mr Martin Linton
|
| Mr Humfrey Malins | Bob Russell
|
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe |
Mr David Winnick |
***
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Report [Freemasonry in Public Life], proposed
by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft
Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 10 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 11 read as follows:
"As indicated above, one of the reasons for
the slow progress on establishing the voluntary registers has
been the problem of deciding how the information in the registers
should be made available to the public. In October 1998, the Home
Secretary told the Committee that chief constables were "very
concerned about the arrangements concerning public access to details
of freemasonry membership" and that the requirements of the
data protection legislation also had to be taken into account.
More recently, the Home Office have indicated that "Lawful
publication of information about freemasonry membership disclosed
voluntarily will require the informed consent of those who have
disclosed that information, which can only be given once the precise
nature of the publication arrangements have been determined".
In the absence of any compelling reason to the contrary, we
support full public access. If necessary, appropriate legislation
should be passed. Additionally, the names of all those who
have failed to indicate whether or not they are masons should
be published; such persons should not be allowed to exempt themselves
entirely from the process simply by declining to cooperate."
An amendment proposed, in line 11, to leave out the
words "Additionally, the names of all those who have failed
to indicate whether or not they are masons should be published;
such persons should not be allowed to exempt themselves entirely
from the process simply by declining to cooperate."
Question put, that the Amendment
be made.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 1
| Noes, 6
|
| Mr Gerald Howarth | Mr Robin Corbett
|
|
Mrs Janet Dean |
|
Mr Humfrey Malins |
| Bob Russell |
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe |
| Mr David Winnick |
Paragraph agreed to.
Paragraphs 12 to 18 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 19 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 20 to 32 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 33 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraph 34 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 35 read.
Question put, That the paragraph stand part of the
Report.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 6
| Noes, 1
|
| Mr Robin Corbett | Mr Gerald Howarth
|
| Mrs Janet Dean |
|
| Mr Humfrey Malins |
|
| Bob Russell |
|
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe |
|
| Mr David Winnick |
|
Paragraph 36 read.
Question put, That the paragraph stand part of the
Report.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 6
| Noes, 1
|
| Mr Robin Corbett | Mr Gerald Howarth
|
| Mrs Janet Dean |
|
| Mr Humfrey Malins |
|
| Bob Russell |
|
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe |
|
| Mr David Winnick |
|
Paragraph 37 read.
Question put, That the paragraph stand part of the
Report.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 6
| Noes, 1
|
| Mr Robin Corbett | Mr Gerald Howarth
|
| Mrs Janet Dean |
|
| Mr Humfrey Malins |
|
| Bob Russell |
|
| Mr Paul Stinchcombe |
|
| Mr David Winnick |
|
Resolved,
That the Report, as amended, be the Second Report of the Committee
to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman
do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions
of Standing Order No. 134 (Select committees (reports)) to be
applied to the Report.
Several papers were ordered to be appended to the
Minutes of Evidence.
Ordered, That the Appendices
to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee be reported
to the House.—(The Chairman.)
Several papers were ordered to be reported to the
House.
[Adjourned
till Tuesday 25th May at quarter past Ten o'clock.
|
