Rejected petition Fly the Welsh flag on all government buildings every day.
We believe that in response to Boris Johnson's diktat that all government buildings fly the Union flag every day, the Senedd should legislate for all government buildings in Wales to also fly the Welsh flag every day. If we are to have a daily reminder of how British we are, it is only appropriate we have a similar reminder of our Welsh heritage as an act of inclusiveness towards those who feel more Welsh than British, or those who wish to celebrate their Britishness and Welshness equally.
Why was this petition rejected?
It asks the Senedd to do something that it is not able to do.
The Senedd and the Welsh Government have responsibility over the flying of flags on their own buildings. The UK Government is responsible for the flying of flags on its buildings in Wales.
UK Government departments are “reserved authorities” within the meaning of Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006. Therefore neither the Senedd nor the Welsh Government has the power to take the action called for by the petition in relation to UK Government buildings.
The Welsh Government’s position on flags on its buildings was provided in an answer to a Written Question in October 2017: https://record.senedd.wales/WrittenQuestion/3104
Y Ddraig Goch and the Union Flag are flown every day from buildings operated by the Senedd Commission.
The Government of Wales Act 2006 establishes the extent of the Senedd’s power to make new laws and amend existing law (also known as legislative competence). Schedules 7A and 7B of the 2006 Act set out the issues which are ‘restricted’ or ‘reserved’ - i.e. areas where the UK Parliament, not the Senedd, can legislate.
Further information about the legislative powers of the Senedd can be found here:
https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/our-role/powers/
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards
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