HC Deb 21 February 1967 vol 741 cc1426-7
Q4. Mr. Lipton

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to amend or repeal the Royal Marriages Act, 1772.

The Prime Minister

I do not at present see a need for legislation for this purpose.

Mr. Lipton

Is the Prime Minister aware that this outworn relic of a spiteful family feud is always liable to place the Crown in an embarrassing position of having to decide whether or not to grant permission to marry someone a long way removed from the line of succession? Is it not time to scrap this antiquated survival which restricts the freedom of individuals to marry a long way from the line of succession?

The Prime Minister

I am not going to comment on a particular case. There is, of course, widespread dissatisfaction in the way in which the Act might work and I am certainly prepared to receive representations from hon. Members or anyone on this matter, but I do not intend to comment on it more widely.