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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Flag plan will have Scots opt-out | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Proposals to fly the Union flag every day on public buildings are set not to apply to Scottish Executive sites. | 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. | 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. | SNP leader Alex Salmond, now first minister, previously said Britishness "went bust long ago" in Scotland. |
| Royal birthdays | Royal birthdays |
| An SNP spokesman said Mr Straw's comments came when he visited Scotland earlier this month. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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 | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | However, the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament will decide flag flying arrangements for their buildings. |