§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Belfast, W.)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether Her Majesty has been pleased to accede to the request conveyed to Her by the Lord Great Chamberlain that the National Flag should be hoisted upon the Palace of Westminster during such time as Parliament is sitting and Her Majesty is not within the precincts; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government will provide the necessary funds to purchase and maintain the National Flag?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. SHAW LEFEVRE,) Bradford, CentralThe Queen has intimated her consent to the application made to her by the Lord Great Chamberlain, prompted, I presume, by the hon. Member, that the Union Jack should be hoisted on the Victoria Tower when Parliament is sitting. I am informed that the cost of maintaining a flag large enough for such an elevated position, and the labour of a man in going up and down 700 steps twice a day, will come to about £25 a year. No provision is made for this in the Estimates of this year for the Department of the Lord Great Chamberlain, which is included in the Vote for the House of Lords. But I have no doubt the matter will be carefully considered by the Treasury in the preparation of next year's Estimates, on the application of the Lord Great Chamberlain.