IN reply to John Lewis (Letters, November 21) my father taught me 50 years ago that, when flown on land, the union flag, is the "Union Flag."

When at sea, the Union Jack becomes just that.

Mr Lewis is right if he says the Union Flag/Jack is a state flag for the United Kingdom, the Queen and Commonwealth.

ALAN LEWIS, Laxey Road, Highercroft, Blackburn.