So there are to be Christmas cracker jokes from the very beginning.

No; we will pursue this. As the hon. Gentleman may know, we are already pursuing it, along with 15 other Commonwealth realms, but the process is very complex legally. Although the idea is simple—ending male primogeniture in the succession rules and allowing successors to the monarchy to marry Catholics, removing that discriminatory rule from the current arrangements—it is proving to be quite difficult and time-consuming to align all the legislative processes across all the realms, but I know that the New Zealand Government are doing all they can to expedite that.

As the House is aware, we have sadly lost two Members over the last few weeks. Before I reply to the hon. Gentleman’s question, let me say that both Malcolm Wicks and Sir Stuart Bell will be very sorely missed.

The right hon. Member for Croydon North was an example to all who entered the House. He always held to the highest standards of public life, and was a credit to the House of Commons. On a personal level, I—along with everyone else, I am sure—was struck by his modesty, compassion and commitment. He worked tirelessly for his constituents. Whether he was dealing with fuel poverty or pursuing legislation to support carers, Malcolm tackled it all with true dedication.

We also heard the sad news of the death of the hon. Member for Middlesbrough. While, as pro-Europeans, Sir Stuart and I agreed on the importance of Europe to the United Kingdom, I think he made it abundantly clear at every opportunity that on pretty well everything else he strongly disagreed with me. He was a strong champion of Church matters in his 13-year role as Second Church Estates Commissioner, and he clearly cared deeply about the House and its traditions, earning the respect of Members in all parts of the House.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the families and friends of both Members at this difficult time.

My officials continue to work closely with the Government of New Zealand in their co-ordination of the proposed reforms of royal succession throughout the 16 Commonwealth realms, which were announced by the Prime Minister at the time of the Perth agreement on 28 October 2011.

Neither the Deputy Prime Minister nor I had any meetings with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church to discuss reform of the Act of Settlement. However, the previous Cabinet Secretary and other

senior officials in Cabinet Office have discussed the matter with a range of interested parties including representatives of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Prime Minister announced in Perth, Australia in October last year that the 16 Commonwealth realms had agreed in principle that we should modernise the Act of Settlement with regard to the rules of royal succession—in particular, to end male primogeniture and the bar on the Monarch and those in the Line of Succession from marrying a Roman Catholic.

We will bring forward UK legislation to give effect to changes to the rules of succession once we have secured the consent of the other Commonwealth realms. This work is being co-ordinated by the New Zealand Government with whom my officials are working very closely.