HC Deb 03 April 2000 vol 347 cc280-1W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if a Union flag was provided for, if arrangements were made to fly the Union flag on the designated dates at, and if the Union flag was flown on 17 March at(a) Department of Agriculture, The Mall, Armagh, (b) Department of Agriculture, Newry Road, Armagh, (c) Southern Education and Library Board, The Mall, Armagh, (d) Southern Education and Library Board, Market House, Armagh, (e) Crown Buildings, Alexander Road, Armagh, (f) RUC Station, Newry Road, Armagh, (g) Department of Environment, Ballinakone, Armagh and (h) Vehicle Testing Station, Hamiltonstown Road, Armagh; and if he will make a statement. [116089]

Mr. Ingram

All central Government buildings are provided with a Union flag and a list of those dates on which the Union flag should be flown.

The Union flag was provided and flown on 17 March at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's offices on the Mall, Armagh and Crown Buildings, Alexander Road, Armagh and the Department of the Environment's Vehicle Testing Station, Hamiltonstown Road, Armagh. Arrangements have been made to fly the Union flag at these buildings on all designated dates.

It is assumed that the building referred to in (g) is the Department of Regional Development's Roads Service Depot at 17 Ballinahonemore Road, Armagh. Although the Union flag was provided and arrangements are in place to fly the flag on all designated dates at this building, and at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's office at Newry Road, Armagh, it was not flown on these buildings on 17 March due to an oversight.

The Union flag is not flown at RUC Stations on Public and/or Bank holidays.

The decision whether or not to fly the Union flag on Southern Education and Library Board property is a matter for that Board.