3. Will the Commission make a statement on the policy for flying flags on the Assembly estate after the UK leaves the European Union? OAQ53507

The National Assembly for Wales has a protocol on the flying of flags on its estate. It outlines the usual arrangements for the displaying of flags and the procedures for other circumstances including annual days of significance and unplanned events. The current arrangements set out the flags that will be flown every day unless other arrangements have been agreed, and these include the European Union flag. The protocol will be updated ahead of any date agreed for the departure of the UK from the European Union.

Thanks for that answer. Of course, there is uncertainty, but we may well be leaving within a few weeks, so I'm glad to hear, Llywydd, that there are plans to update the procedure, and I look forward to seeing them in due course, and hopefully quite soon.

I'm not sure whether there was a question there for me to respond to, but Brexit is about much more than the colour of passports and the flying of flags, in my opinion. There will be a flagpole that may be without a banner, either in a few weeks' time, a few years' time, or possibly not at all. If that happens, then you may have seen, over the last week or so, that the Welsh dragon has, in a global poll, come out on top as the coolest international flag, and I think it's about time that we had at least two of those flags flying outside our building, if not four.

Like the Llywydd, I'm extremely proud of the Welsh flag, and very pleased to see that it was rated very highly in an international poll. Another flag that, of course, is extremely popular in Wales, particularly on St David's Day, is the St David's flag, the flag of our patron saint. It's not widely recognised, I'm afraid, around the world, unlike the saltire and unlike St George's flag. Can I urge the Commission to consider flying the St David's flag on a permanent basis on the Assembly estate in order to promote this important part of Wales and our identity?

I fear that I've set in train a competition now for whose flag is the favourite flag. I'll reiterate what I said: if the world thinks that the Welsh dragon is the coolest flag on earth, then I reckon we should fly it with pride.