Context
The question addresses concerns about the use and misuse of national symbols such as the cross of St George and the Union Jack by certain organisations.
Question
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to regulate the use of national symbols by commercial and other entities. I think many people would be quite angered by the way certain national organisations have tried to change our national flags, the cross of St George and the Union Jack. Is it not time that we protected and cherished our national symbols by appointing a Minister of the Crown from the Cabinet Office to oversee that? Will the Minister also look at the Union Flag Bill of 2008, which would enshrine in legislation the protection of our cherished national flag?
Answer from Stuart Andrew
The correct use of many national symbols, such as royal names, state emblems, the royal arms and the Government coat of arms, is already subject to Government regulation. The Union Jack should be a unifying symbol for the whole country. It has looked the way it has for the past several hundred years and I see no point in messing around with it. I am not sure that we need legislation; we just need some common sense.
Not addressed: The specific ask to appoint a Minister of the Crown from the Cabinet Office to oversee the protection of national symbols was not directly addressed, and no concrete steps were outlined for legislative proposals.
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