§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the 763W estimated cost of erecting and dismantling ceremonial flagpoles in the Westminster-Buckingham Palace area for State occasions; how many times such flagpoles have been erected and dismantled in each of the last five years; and what would be the cost and disadvantages of erecting permanent flagpoles.
§ Mr. MarksDifferent combinations of flagpoles are erected in the Westminster-Buckingham Palace area depending on the nature of the State occasion. The cost for the Romanian State Visit—including horizontal poles from Government buildings—was £29,000. The cost of 16 poles in Parliament Square, as for Europe Day, is £1,700; 37 poles as used for Commonwealth Day cost £4,500.
Poles have been erected and dismantled as follows:
1974 5 times 1975 5 times 1976 5 times 1977 6 times 1978 to date 5 times A study carried out a few years ago showed that the cost of permanent poles would not be significantly different. There would be less flexibility and a loss of occasion which the present practice provides.