The second new petition for consideration today is PE1810, lodged by Philip Smith, on replacing the European Union flag with the Commonwealth flag. The petition calls on the Scottish Government to fly the Commonwealth flag in place of the EU flag at Scottish Government buildings.
In its written submission, the Scottish Government explains that the decision was made to continue flying the European flag from the main Scottish Government buildings to send an
“unequivocal signal of the commitment to the values that underpin the EU and of solidarity with EU nationals resident in Scotland”.
I am content that the Commonwealth flag is flown once a year, because the Commonwealth is an important body with an important role to play. In the recent past, the Scottish Parliament has taken a view and made a decision on the flying of the European flag.
This is a matter of consistency. Technically, flying a flag to represent Europe will, in due course, mean the Council of Europe flag, as opposed to the European Union flag. If we fly the Council of Europe flag, we should also fly the Commonwealth flag, the NATO flag and a whole load of other flags. Therefore, putting up the Commonwealth flag would be inconsistent.
I would take the EU flag down permanently, but we will not make any progress on that with the Scottish Government, because it is adamant about what it wants to do. We will have to close the petition in response to what the Government has said.
The submission from the Scottish Government is clear about the policy that is in place. I disagree with Tom Mason: I do not think that it is the Scottish Government that is adamant, as it was a decision that the Scottish Parliament made. Under rule 15.7 of the standing orders, I would close the petition.
I will correct Gail Ross on that point. The decision was taken by the Scottish Parliament in regard to the flags at the Parliament building, but the decision about flags at Scottish Government buildings was taken at Government level. There is a distinct difference.
The issue rages through councils, and I have been through it many times. The Scottish Government’s policy is clear—the Scottish Parliament also set a policy—whether we agree or disagree with it.
I agree with the convener that it is important that the Commonwealth flag flies, which it does on Commonwealth day, as should the armed forces day flag on armed forces day and the red ensign on merchant navy day. As long as we can keep that going, that is fine. Flags will always be contentious; I have seen that over the years.
I vote to close the petition under rule 15.7 of the standing orders. It is clear that the Scottish Government has no plans to make any changes to its flag-flying policy.
There is a consensus that, regardless of members’ views on the flying of various flags at particular times, the Scottish Government has made it clear that it has no plans to change its policy. In the recent past, as I said, the Scottish Parliament has also taken a view on the issue. I think that we are therefore agreeing to close the petition.
As did others, we emphasise the importance of the appropriate flags, including the Commonwealth flag, being flown at appropriate times.
I thank the petitioner for engaging with the Public Petitions Committee, and for highlighting the issues as they did. After a year, they have the opportunity to return on the same issue, if they feel that that is appropriate.
The type of each item (debate, statement, questions, members’ business and so on) and the times shown are worked out by this site from headings, the chair’s opening words and the Official Report’s running timestamps. They are not the Parliament’s own classification. Text: the Scottish Parliament Official Report.
