Sir, - As it was the Ulster Unionists who introduced the idea of a Council of the Isles into the Good Friday Agreement, I feel I have a right to respond to the letter by Assembly Member Sam Foster (May 22nd).
Does he, and his fellow unionists of various sorts, realise that though Wales also, alas ".. . remains part of the United Kingdom", it is not the case that "the Union Flag . . . should be flown from all Government buildings . . .".
The Union Jack is a rarity here these days. It's never flown without the Welsh national flag, and "God Save The Queen" is very rarely sung or played, even when Queen Elizabeth is present. This was notably the case when she and other members of the British royal family attended the inaugural concert for the official opening of the Welsh National Assembly. It was only the Welsh flag which was flown, the Welsh national anthem which was sung, and Prince Charles's opening address to the new Assembly at the opening ceremony was delivered entirely in Welsh.
Those young unionist students who can't tolerate bilingual signs in Queen's University had better stay away from our universities and colleges, which, like most public and private institutions here, now sign themselves in both languages. This is seen as giving parity of esteem and validity to all the people who live in Wales. - Yours, etc.,
H. Pritchard Jones, Cardiff CF14 1NJ, Wales.