Committee
Public Petitions Committee, 08 Oct 2002
08 Oct 2002 · S1 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Current Petitions
Saltire (PE512)
That could not be done.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Gil Paterson is present to discuss petition PE512, so we will bring that forward. I am sorry that we are jumping about a bit on the agenda, but a large numbe...
Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
The matter seems a wee bit trivial. I have sat through all the committee's deliberations this morning and the committee has considered some heavy matters, no...
The Convener:
Lab
No advertising is allowed here.
Mr Paterson:
SNP
My business and every other business in colour operate with numbers. The system goes back to its invention by the Chinese. People do not talk greys, blues or...
The Convener:
Lab
Right—that was some passion delivered there. I do not know anything about the designation of numbers to colours. You are calling for the flag colour to be de...
Mr Paterson:
SNP
It is a straightforward technicality. When someone makes an order, they are asked what colour they want and they give a number.
The Convener:
Lab
What I am trying to get at is the fact that it would not be mandatory. The Parliament can designate a certain number of blue—
Mr Paterson:
SNP
Exactly. That is the point.
The Convener:
Lab
But people would be free to use other numbers of blue if they wished.
Mr Paterson:
SNP
You know the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk". We do not want "Jack and the Flagpole", with Jack climbing up to check the colour of all the flags.
The Convener:
Lab
That could not be done.
Mr Paterson:
SNP
Of course not. This is not about regulation, or whether all flags are of the same colour: it is about who is responsible for designating the colour so that w...
Dorothy-Grace Elder:
Ind
It happens that the saltire has been chosen, but why not solve the whole problem by switching to the lion rampant, which is much cheerier?
Mr Paterson:
SNP
We would still need a colour.
Dr Ewing:
SNP
We would still need a yellow—with the Queen's permission.
The Convener:
Lab
I call Phil Gallie.
Dorothy-Grace Elder:
Ind
What has the Queen got to do with it?
Dr Ewing:
SNP
And we would need to consult the Lord Lyon.
Phil Gallie:
Con
I must admit that, until Gil Paterson spoke, I would have been happy to go along with Jim Wallace's comments. I then started to think about colour references...
Dorothy-Grace Elder:
Ind
And Phil Gallie is the expert on blue.
The Convener:
Lab
Let me suggest that, in the light of Gil Paterson's contribution, we write back to the Executive, asking it whether it would be prepared simply to designate ...
Mr Paterson:
SNP
I would be happy to give the Executive 30 years of my experience. It is there to be picked up.
The Convener:
Lab
I hope that you are not looking for contracts.
Mr Paterson:
SNP
No.
The Convener:
Lab
Is that course of action agreed?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener:
Lab
Thank you. Let us get back to the agenda. Interruption. I am sorry, but we will have to jump around again. Another member has joined us—we are very popular t...