HC Deb 29 October 1912 vol 43 cc244-5
24 and 31. MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (24) by whose advice and on whose authority the daffodil was used at the recent Investiture of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at Carnarvon; what was the historical authority for so doing; and whether he was aware of the proposed change before the Investiture took place and was satisfied that the change was justified by history or tradition; and (31) whether, under an Order of Council sitting under the Act of Union, 1800, the badges of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales were settled as the rose, the thistle, the shamrock, and the red dragon on a green mount, respectively; whether, before placing the daffodil as the emblem of Wales upon the insurance stamp, he obtained the sanction of the Crown, as the sole fount of honour, through an Order in Council; and, if not, will steps be taken to remove this spurious emblem from the stamp?

34. Major ARCHER-SHEE

asked whether, in view of the recent substitution of the daffodil for the leek as the national emblem of Wales, he will consider the advisability of substituting the bluebell for the thistle as the national emblem of Scotland on insurance stamps?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I am not responsible for the designs adopted for the Prince of Wales's insignia, and have no knowledge of the points raised by the Noble Lord in that connection. As I have already stated, the use of the daffodil on the insurance stamps follows that precedent. The answer to the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the negative.

MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

Am I incorrect in assuming that in adopting the emblem on the insurance stamp the right hon. Gentleman has acted unconstitutionally, and really assumed the authority of the Crown in so doing?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I followed precedent, and presumably it must have been sanctioned by the Crown at the Investiture.

MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware it was not sanctioned by the Crown or Garter King-at-Arms?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

I cannot imagine that to be the case, as Garter King-at-Arms was a member of the Committee.

MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINE

Does not the right hon. Gentleman know quite well that the Garter King-at-Arms denies that this question was put before him?