Scotland Given Special Flag-Flying Status

The report specifically exempts Scotland & N.I.. This extract is from the BBC website Flag plan will have Scots opt-out

The union flag is currently flown only on certain specified days Proposals to fly the Union flag every day on public buildings are set not to apply to Scottish Executive sites. The government published the plans last week and they follow Gordon Brown raising the issue of celebrating Britishness in January. The SNP said Justice Secretary Jack Straw assured the policy would not cover executive buildings. SNP leader Alex Salmond, now first minister, previously said Britishness "went bust long ago" in Scotland. Royal birthdays An SNP spokesman said Mr Straw's comments came when he visited Scotland earlier this month. The spokesman said: "Jack Straw agreed there are different considerations in Scotland than there are in England. "He agreed that the issue of flags is best left for us to decide. In Scotland, the Saltire will fly each day, although on 18 special days the union flag will be raised instead." A consultation paper proposes giving government departments the freedom to fly the Union Jack every day, instead of just a few days a year such as royal birthdays. People's views Culture Secretary James Purnell said: "The Union flag is a powerful symbol of both our heritage and modern, diverse Britain. It brings us together in solidarity and shared identity. "We want to hear people's views about whether government buildings should be allowed to fly it every day." The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said the consultation extended to government buildings in Scotland but not Northern Ireland. However, the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament will decide flag flying arrangements for their buildings.

Anybody wishing to comment on these proposals can do so in writing or by e-mail to:
Samantha Turner,
Architecture and Historic Environment Division
Department for Culture, Media and Sport,
2-3 Cockspur Street,
London SW1Y 5DH

samantha.turner@culture.gsi.gov.uk

The deadline for responses is Friday 9 November 2007.
So why does Scotland have special privileges on the flying of flags and not Wales?
A question for the National Assembly of Wales.
Brought to my notice by Alan Jobbins, Plaid Cymru Credit Union