The Scottish Government

DAYS FOR HOISTING FLAGS ON BUILDINGS OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT 2009

Issue No. 13 (Valid from January 2009)

From 8am till sunset

Key

A: Union flag, with Saltire if building has two or more flag poles. If there is only one flag pole,

the Saltire should be lowered and replaced with the Union flag - for that day only.

B: Saltire, with Union flag if building has two or more flag poles.

C. Union Flag, with European flag if building has two flag poles, and Saltire if building has three or more flag poles.

D: Union Flag, with Red Ensign if building has two flag poles, and Saltire if building has three or more flag poles.

Notes:

1. Usually the second Monday of the month. In 2009 the date is 9th March 2009.

2. On Scottish Government buildings that only have one flag pole; the Union flag should take precedence over the European or Red Ensign flags. Where a building has two or more flag poles, these other flags may be flown in addition to the Union flag but not in a superior position. The Saltire may be flown if the building has three or more flag poles.

3. Date advised annually (usually the second Saturday in June). In 2009 the date is 13th June 2009.

4. Usually the second Sunday of the month. In 2009 the date is 8th November 2009.

Flags should be flown right up all day.

RULES FOR HOISTING FLAGS ON BUILDINGS OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Issue No. 13 (Valid from January 2009)

Review

This issue of the Scottish Government Flag Flying Guidance is for current use only. The guidance is being reviewed by the Protocol Team.

Flying of Saltire

The Saltire should now where possible be flown every day from Scottish Government buildings.

Extent of Application

These guidelines apply to the Scottish Government, its related Agencies and associated Departments. Rules and dates on the flying of flags from all other Government buildings in the United Kingdom are distributed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Architecture and Historic Environment Division, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH. (Tel: 020-7211-2381).

Local authority buildings and schools are not affected by these guidelines, the matter of flag flying remaining one for individual local authorities to determine. These rules and dates are not binding on any other public institutions, or members of the public. With the exception of the Royal Standard, which may not be flown without permission from The Queen, these other groups may fly any flag at any time, no weight of public authority being implied behind such flag flying.

Dates On Which Flags Are To Be Flown

Other flags are to be flown only on the dates named on the accompanying Schedule. For buildings; with only one flag pole on the special national days such as the Queen's Birthday, the Saltire should be lowered and replaced - for that day only - with the Union flag, as it takes precedence.

The Scottish Government will inform the relevant authorities of any other occasions on which The Queen has given a special command to fly flags. Only on exceptional occasions would a flag (other than the Saltire) be flown on a day other than a listed day. Any requests to fly flags on exceptional occasions must be cleared in advance with the First Minister.

Flying Of Other Flags

The only flags that should be flown from Scottish Government buildings in Scotland are the Saltire, the Union flag, the European flag (Europe Day only), the Red Ensign (Merchant Navy Day only) and the Royal Standard (by special command). Other flags, including those of other nations, should not be flown from Scottish Government buildings.

Superior Position

This is the highest pole if there is one pole higher than the others. If there is an even number of flag poles of the same height the superior position is the left of centre flag pole viewed from the street (looking towards the front of the building). If there is an odd number of flag poles of the same height the superior position is the central pole.

How The European And Red Ensign Flags Should Be Flown

On Scottish Government buildings that have only one flag pole, the flying of the Union flag should take precedence over the European or Red Ensign Flags for that specific flag flying date only. Where a building has two or more flag poles, these flags may be flown on the appropriate date in addition to the Union flag but not in a superior position. If a building has three flag poles the Saltire should also be flown.

How The Union Flag Should Be Flown

The broader diagonal white stripe should be at the top left hand side of the flag nearest the flag pole.

Use of the Royal Standard

For St. Andrew's Day only the Royal Standard (Royal Arms of Scotland) will be flown from St. Andrew's House (only) when the First Minister is working from the building. The First Minister is entitled to do so in his role as Keeper of the Great Seal. The Saltire should be flown from other buildings throughout the Scottish Government estate.

The Royal Standard is The Queen's official banner in Scotland. Flags showing the Royal Arms of Scotland (the 'Lion Rampant') or the Royal Arms as used in Scotland (the Quartered Arms) are Ensigns of Public Authority, and are therefore only used by The Sovereign or Her Great Officers, such as Lord Lieutenants, when acting in that capacity.

The Royal Standard is usually only hoisted above a Scottish Government building during the period The Queen is present in the building. It is not hoisted when The Queen is only passing in procession. If The Queen is to be present in your building, please contact the Protocol Team, Strategy and Ministerial Support Directorate to make the necessary arrangements.

The flying of the Royal Standard from a non-Government property or garden is not permissible, as it implies that the flag flyer is claiming the Royal Arms as his or her own.

Flying Of Flags At Half Mast

'Half mast' means that the flag is flown two-thirds up the flag pole.

The occasions on which flags are to be flown at half mast are:

(a) from the announcement of the death up to the funeral of the Sovereign, except on

Proclamation Day, when they are hoisted right up from 11am to sunset;

(b) the funerals of members of the Royal Family, subject to special commands in each case;

(c) the funerals of foreign rulers, subject to special commands in each case;

(d) the funerals of serving and ex-Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom, and the funerals of serving and ex-Scottish First Ministers, subject to special commands in each case.

Rules When Days For Flying Coincide With Days For Flying At Half Mast

Flags are to be flown right up all day:

(a) although a member of the Royal Family, or a near relative of the Royal Family, may be lying dead, unless special commands are received from The Queen to the contrary;

(b) although it may be the day of the funeral of a foreign ruler.

If it is a day on which a flag would fly, but the body of a very distinguished subject is lying at a Scottish Government building, the flag may fly at half mast on that office until the body has left, after which the flag is to be hoisted right up. On all other Scottish Government buildings the flag will fly as usual.

Acts Of Terrorism And Other Human Tragedies

The Death And Funeral Of Serving And Ex-Serving Foreign Rulers

In the event of an act of terrorism or other human tragedy, flags should not be flown at half mast unless a special command is issued to the contrary. The Protocol Team will be your point of contact.

Flag flying contact

Darren Jeffery, Protocol Team, Scottish Government, 2J Dockside, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ.

Tel: 0131 244 3403 (direct line)

Email: Protocol@scotland.gsi.gov.uk