AQW 40454/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 08/01/2015
Answered On Date: 22/01/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of the Environment, as part of his Department’s responsibility to develop policy and legislation to facilitate the transition from 26 to 11 councils, what advice has been given to councils on what would be considered the legal status quo if a council should fail to adopt a policy on the flying of flags.

Answer:

My Department has provided no advice to councils, in the context of the local government reform programme.

The policy on the flying of flags on council property is a matter for each council as a local democratically elected body. This position was reinforced by the Assembly’s rejection of proposals to legislate on the matter at the Consideration Stage of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 2014.