What a thread! To those who can do anything about the NATS situation get on and fix it and don't let the inane rantings of a few celts and yanks bother you. I'd rather have a reassuring ENGLISH speaking professional looking after me than any one of the caretakers you can find elsewhere in this mad, apparently anglophobic aviation world of ours!!!!!
Oh and DFC a naval jack just happens to be the union flag, its identical to the union flag but is called a union jack when its flown at the jackstaff of a Royal Naval warship. Its the ensign at the other end that I think you were alluding to!