Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the Secretary of State for War whether a new design for the Union flag for the King's colour was approved in or about 1900; if so, whether the King's colours subsequently issued have been made in conformity with that design or with the previous design; for how long the previous design had been followed; whether the War Office is the only department which has adopted the new design; whether the War Office has adopted it for other Union flags than the King's colours; and whether he will lay upon the Table papers setting cut, both by description and graphically, the two designs of the Union flag, together with a statement of the considerations which led to the introduction and adoption of the new design?
§ Mr. HALDANEAn amended design for the Queen's (now the King's) colour was approved by Her late Majesty Queen Victoria in 1900.
All Queen's and King's colours issued since that date have been in conformity with the amended design. The previous design appears to have been in use since 1801. The amended design was approved by Queen Victoria only as a standard to govern the dimensions of the flag as represented in the Queen's colours of line battalions and the regimental colours of the Foot Guards. The War Office have not adopted this design for any other purpose than that for which it was expressly sanctioned. The change was made on heraldic grounds in order to bring the Regimental Union into closer accord with the description of the Union flag given in the Royal Proclamation of 1st January, 1801, and at the same time to create a standard pattern for the colours. It is not proposed to lay any Papers on the subject.