New guidance published today by the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will see the Union flag flown on
UK Government buildings every day.
Currently, Union flags are only required to be flown on all
UK Government buildings on designated days. The guidance will ask
for the flag to be flown all year round, unless another flag is
being flown – such as another national flag of the UK, or a
county flag, or other flags to mark civic pride.
The Union
flag is the National Flag of the United Kingdom,
and it is so called because it embodies the emblems of the
constituent nations united under one Sovereign - the Kingdoms of
England and Wales, of Scotland and of Northern Ireland.
The Union flag dates back to 1606 when King James VI of
Scotland became King James I of England and it was decided that
the union of the two countries should be represented symbolically
by a new flag. In 1801 following the Act of Union of Ireland with
England, Wales and Scotland, the Cross of St Patrick was included
on the design creating the flag as we know it today.
Culture Secretary said:
“The Union flag unites us as a nation and people rightly
expect it to be flown above UK Government buildings. This
guidance will ensure that happens every day, unless another flag
is being flown, as a proud reminder of our history and the ties
that bind us.”
Local Government Secretary Rt Hon MP said:
“Our nation’s flag is a symbol of liberty, unity and
freedom that creates a shared sense of civic pride. People
rightly expect to see the Union Flag flying high on civic and
Government buildings up and down the country, as a sign of our
local and national identity.
“That’s why I am calling on all local councils to fly the
Union Flag on their buildings – and today’s guidance will enable
them to do that. We’ve also cut red tape, allowing councils to
also fly their county flag at the same time.”
The Government has also cut red tape to allow dual flagging
– where two flags can be flown on one pole. Where
organisations have two flag poles, they can fly the Union flag
alongside another flag. This will allow
organisations to highlight their local identity alongside their
national identities, for example by flying a
Middlesex county flag alongside the Union flag in London, or the
Saltire alongside the Union flag in Scotland. Other flags may
also be flown on non-designated days including a Saint’s Day or
county day.
Planning regulations in England that were introduced in
2007 to allow the EU flag to be flown on public buildings without
acquiring planning permission will also be removed following the
UK’s departure from the European Union.
Instead, new ‘deemed consent’ will be granted for the NHS
flags. This will allow for the NHS flags to be flown, without
planning permission – alongside the Union flag.
DCMS publishes guidance each year on flag flying, however
from this year, the department will ask that all UK Government
buildings in England, Wales and Scotland fly the Union flag every
day. Union flag flying in UK Government buildings in Northern
Ireland is covered by separate legislation.
Today the Local Government Secretary has written to all councils In England to raise
awareness of the guidance and encourage them to fly Union
flags on their buildings.
Other authorities, institutions and individuals may fly any
flag at any time so long as it complies with planning
requirements. The flying of national flags,
including the Union flag, is deregulated in England, Wales and
Scotland. This update is guidance only and will apply from the
summer.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
-
In Northern Ireland there is specific legislation
setting out the arrangements for the flying of flags from
government buildings.
-
In England and Wales, the flying of flags is controlled
through advertisement control regulations, but national flags
and their flagpoles are exempt from the need for express
consent
-
In Scotland, there are no controls on the flying of
national flags, but planning permission may be required for a
new flagpole
Flag Flying on Government buildings in other
countries
-
In the US, the Flag of the United States of America is
flown all year round especially on significant public
holidays such as Inauguration Day. On a day-to-day basis, the
flag is flown on or near to main administration buildings of
every public institution, in or near polling places on
election day, and is displayed in or near to every
school.
-
In Australia, the Australian National Flag is flown
over federal and state parliaments and can be flown every day
of the year. There are protocols governing its use, and also
the Flag Act 1953, which outline the design and its
precedence in relation to other Australian and national
flags.
