§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to seek to amend58W the law to (a) allow members of the Royal family to marry a Catholic without losing their right to inherit the throne and (b) allow Roman Catholics to inherit the throne; and if he will make a statement. [99658]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 26 November 1999]: The Government have always stood firmly against discrimination in all its forms, including against Roman Catholics, and it will continue to do so.
The Government have a heavy legislative programme aimed at delivering key manifesto commitments in areas such as health, education, crime and reform of the welfare system. To bring about change to the law on succession would be a complex undertaking involving amendment or repeal of a number of items of related legislation, as well as requiring the consent of legislatures of member nations of the Commonwealth. It would raise other major constitutional issues. The Government have no plans to legislate in this area.