§ 45. Mr. N. Pannellasked the Prime Minister if he will arrange for St. George's Day to be declared an appointed day for the purpose of flying flags on Government buildings.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)This question has been raised from time to time. If there is any general 1420 feeling in England for the change suggested, I will certainly consider it.
§ Mr. PannellIn thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that flags are flown from Government buildings in Scotland on St. Andrew's Day and in Wales on St. David's Day? Despite his own Scottish ancestry, will my right hon. Friend purge his mind of prejudice in this matter and concede that flags should be flown from Government buildings in London, which is the capital of England, on St. George's Day?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I will try to bring to it a more objective point of view than those of my English predecessors.
§ Sir G. NicholsonHow does my right hon. Friend propose to gauge public opinion? Is he aware that poor, oppressed Englishmen would very much appreciate this flying of their symbol sometimes, although they are quite content in the knowledge that they are the dominating partner?
§ The Prime MinisterWithout accepting the proposition in the second part of that supplementary question, I think that one of the ways of judging public opinion is the interest of the House of Commons.