Afternoon press briefing from 22 April 2008
Briefing from the Prime Minister's Spokesman on: Flags and 10p Tax
Flags
The Prime Minister's Spokesman (PMS) started the briefing by updating on a question which had been asked in the morning briefing about whether or not the St George's flag would be flown tomorrow in Downing Street. The PMS explained that Government buildings in England which had two flag poles would be encouraged to fly the St George's flag on St George's day tomorrow in addition to the Union flag, hence the importance of two flag poles. Therefore, the St George's flag would be flown along with the Union flag above Downing Street.
Asked why there was stipulation about there being two flag poles, the PMS replied that it was because the Union flag took precedence over the St George's flag. The Union flag would fly in what was known as the "superior position" and that was dictated by whichever pole held the position closest to Buckingham Palace.
Asked if the Union flag would have precedence over the Saltire in Scotland, the PMS replied that his understanding was that in the United Kingdom the Union flag, in relation to UK Government buildings, should take precedence over national flags.
Asked of this was a new practice, the PMS said that it was a new practice following the Government consultation on flag flying which concluded on 25th March. Therefore this was the first national day we had had since that date.
Asked who chaired the flag flying consultation, the PMS replied that it was Jack Straw.
Asked what had happened in previous years, the PMS said that from recent memory the only occasion when the St George's flag had flown over Downing Street was during the 2006 World Cup.
Asked if there had been a consultation with the Scottish National Party (SNP) and if the SNP had agreed that the Union flag should take precedence over the Saltire, the PMS said that he had been talking in relation to UK Government buildings and that for the exact details of the consultation it was best to speak to the Ministry of Justice who were responsible.
Asked if Downing Street would be flying Scottish flags on St Andrew's Day and Welsh flags on St David's Day and so on, the PMS replied yes. The position in relation to Northern Ireland was that it did not have a national flag, therefore the issue did not apply; there were separate rules for flag flying in Northern Ireland and we did not intend on changing the position on Northern Ireland flags.
Asked for the Prime Minister's view on this unique change, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister's view was that we should celebrate our Britishness, but that celebrating our Britishness did not mean that we could not celebrate our Englishness, Scottishness, Welshness and Northern Irishness.
10p Tax
Asked if the Prime Minister welcomed the decision that the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) should hold a speedy inquiry into the 10p tax rate, the PMS said that that was a matter for the TSC. The timing and scope of the inquiry was a matter for the TSC. Yvette Cooper had set out the Government's position on this in the House of Commons yesterday.
Asked if it was seen as helpful, the PMS said that we generally saw the work of Select Committees as being useful and constructive.
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