A Shrinking Flag?
I am presuming that the eagle eyed Jim Wells is concerned that there is a nationalist conspiracy to shrink the size of the Union Flag fluttering over Stormont. That's all I can read into his question to the Assembly Commission contrasting the size of the flags flown over Parliament Buildings on 21st April 2008 and the size of the flags flown on the Queen's Birthdays in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
However, Robert Coulter, replying on behalf of the Commission, explains that there are two different kinds of Union Flags ready for the Security Services Branch of the Assembly Staff to fly. The full size (dimensions: 12 ft x 6 ft) can be unfurled on most days but the smaller version (dimensions: 7 ½ ft x 3 ¾ ft) is employed during stormy weather.
On 21st April 2008, it turns out that the 'storm' flags were flown. Why? The Commission says "the decision is subjective and is based on the weather conditions at the time and what is forecast for the remainder of the day. The decision must also reflect health & safety concerns i.e. the possibility that the full standard may with strong winds and wet weather break free from the flagpole and fall to the ground injuring a passer by".
As John Hume used to say "you can't eat a flag". But maybe you could get bumped on the head by one.
I'm 
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