The society of ordained scientists, for priests with doctorates in science subjects, has more than 60 members, among them the former Archbishop of York, Dr John Habgood.Professor Berry points out that RA Fisher, a scientist revered by Dawkins, who brought mathematical rigour to genetics and biology in the middle of the century, was a devout Christian who preached regularly in chapel.Some Christians see evolution as a theological advantage, in that it seems to relieve God of some of the direct responsibility for the horror of the world: if His purpose was to create beings with free will, they argue, then such things as the struggle for existence between the Aids virus and human beings may have been necessary.Professor Berry is reluctant to go that far, or to draw any large theological conclusions from his scientific knowledge.He is a sturdy, brisk man with a short white beard who speaks in sudden bursts. Despite the fact that Darwin died an atheist, and one of his chief opponents was a bishop of Oxford known as "Soapy Sam", there have been plenty of Christians, especially Anglicans, to embrace and defend the theory of evolution. Sir John Templeton, the millionaire American stockbroker who each year gives a prize of pounds 700,000 for progress in religion globally, also gives a whole network of smaller prizes here and in America. The links between Christianity and and evolution are subtle and complicated. Richard Dawkins, probably the most famous atheist in Britain, bases his argument against God on the truth of evolution.

So it can come as a shock to realise that there are other scientists, quite as committed to evolution as Dawkins is, who have no difficulty with Christianity. One of the most distinguished is Sam Berry, professor of Genetics at University College London, who will today be given a cheque for pounds 3,000 as winner of one of the British Templeton prizes for progress in religion. And we have one great advantage: with the exception of the press gallery, journalists don't have a register of interests for the rest of the country to mock.. Why not? Journalism is often better-paid, easier and just as influential as the life of the backbench MP.

As real journalists lambast the parliamentarians and attempt to set the political agenda themselves, so the politicians are hitting back by turning themselves into journalists. Almost every MP on the register who isn't a consultant seems to be a columnist for somebody, a freelance journalist or a broadcaster.A strange crossover is taking place. Everyone was in a meeting.''Even now, the country seems divided into three main groups There are the honestly and officially unemployed There are the consultants And then, according to the register, there are ... well, the journalists.The highest-paid of those MPs who deigned to register their employment is Roy Hattersley, who makes well over pounds 100,000 from his journalism. But he is only the most successful of a vast and growing army of scribbler- politicians. Almost everyone seems to be a consultant these days, advising other people on something slightly difficult to pin down.