HL Deb 16 December 1952 vol 179 cc994-5

2.53 p.m.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To draw the attention of Her Majesty's Government first to the communication recently addressed by the Lord Lyon King of Arms to the Scottish Bowling Association informing them that they should not have the Lion Rampant on their crest, and secondly, in this connection, to the answer given to me in another place by the Secretary for Scotland on 2ndMay, 1922, that the Scottish Office circular of 18th June, 1907, relating to the flying of the Lion Flag with the device Or, a lion rampant, by private persons was still in force, and that, in point of fact, it was desired to encourage the display of this flag by private individuals; and, seeing that the use of the Lion Rampant by private individuals in Scotland comes into one and the same category whether on a flag or on a crest, to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will confirm that the Scottish Office circular of 18th June, 1907, is still in force, and that it is still desired to encourage the use of the Lion Rampant by private persons in Scotland.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (THE EARL OF HOME)

My Lords, I understand that Lyon King of Arms has objected to the use by the Scottish Bowling Association of a device incorporating a coat of arms. The primary cause of the objection was not that the device incorporates a lion rampant, but that the arms have already been registered by others. Any person or body desiring to bear arms must either establish their right to do so or obtain a new grant of arms from Lyon King of Arms, which would be registered in the Lyon Register. Lyon's powers in this matter derive from the Lyon King of Arms Act, 1867, and are contained in various Statutes and in the common law of Scotland. The Secretary of State has no jurisdiction to interfere with Lyon's actions in enforcing the law in such matters. The flying of the Lion Rampant flag raises quite different considerations. It was made clear in 1934 that no objection would be taken to the display of this flag as a mark of loyalty to the Sovereign, and this advice has been repeated on subsequent occasions.

VISCOUNT ELIBANK

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his answer, which I feel sure will be received with great gratification in most quarters in Scotland.