Conclusions and recommendations
Religion and establishment
1. We
welcome the proposal that would allow a member of the royal family
to marry a Roman Catholic without losing their place in the line
of succession. The existing provision is anomalous in discriminating
solely against Roman Catholics and those who wish to marry them.
The proposal does, however, raise questions about the future role
of the Crown in the Church of England, which the House may wish
to consider in due course. (Paragraph 14)
Primogeniture and the aristocracy
2. The
proposal to end the preferential treatment of men in the line
of succession has been widely welcomed, and with good reason.
(Paragraph 15)
3. While the holders
of hereditary peerages continue to be eligible for membership
of the House of Lords, the way in which their titles are inherited,
and its effect on the gender balance in Parliament, remain matters
of public interest. (Paragraph 17)
Royal Marriages Act
4. The
Royal Marriages Act is overdue for reform. We look forward to
seeing the detail of the Government's proposals in this area.
(Paragraph 18)
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