Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to celebrate the feast day of Saint George in 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the Hon member to my answer to PQ 38000 answered on the 26th March. In addition to the regular annual celebrations of St George’s Day, this year St George’s Day marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Mallord William Turner, which has been celebrated in many museums and galleries up and down the country.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29620 on DCMS: Flags, what flags other than the Union flag and the Ukraine flag, have been flown to date in 2024-25; and on what dates.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The following flags other than the Union Flag and the Ukraine flag have been flown from the DCMS/HM Treasury Building (100 Parliament Street/1 Horse Guards Road) in the calendar years 2024 and 2025:
2024
1 March (St David's Day): Flag of Wales
11 March (Commonwealth Day): Commonwealth Flag
4 April (NATO Founding Day): NATO Flag
23 April (St George's Day): Flag of England
26 April (75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth): Commonwealth Flag
17 May (Anti Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Day): Rainbow Flag
24 June-29 June (Armed Forces Day): Armed Forces Day Flag
27 June-29 June (London Pride): Rainbow Flag
14 July (Men's Euros Final): Flag of England
30 November (St Andrew's Day): Flag of Scotland
2025
None
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make it his policy to establish additional public holidays to mark (a) St Andrew's Day, (b) St David's Day, (c) St George's Day and (d) St Patrick's Day.
Answered by Justin Madders
The current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established and accepted. The Government has no plans to change it.
Northern Ireland and Scotland have additional bank holidays for St Patrick’s Day and St Andrew’s Day respectively.
While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will establish an additional public holiday for St George's Day.
Answered by Justin Madders
The current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established and accepted. The Government has no plans to change it.
While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The estimated cost to the UK economy of an additional one-off bank holiday is around £2bn.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government made plans for the celebration of St. George's Day in England.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
My department promotes the importance of celebrating St George’s Day each year through its flag flying policy for designated days which encourages the flying of the Union Flag on UK Government Buildings.
St George’s Day is a designated day. UK Government Buildings, where they have more than one flag pole, are also encouraged to fly the Cross of St George alongside the Union Flag. Individuals, local authorities and other organisations may fly the Cross of St George if they wish.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if she will establish an additional public holiday for St George's Day.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Minister without Portfolio
The Government regularly receives requests for additional bank and public holidays to commemorate a variety of occasions – such as cultural, historical, military and religious events.
While an additional bank holiday may benefit some communities and sectors, the cost to the economy of an additional bank holiday remains considerable. The latest analysis estimates the cost to the UK economy for a one-off bank holiday to be around £2bn.
The current pattern of bank holidays is well established and accepted and we have no plans to change it.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on requiring schools to fly the St. George’s cross on St. George’s Day.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Schools are free to celebrate St George’s Day, although there were no plans from the Department to ensure that they did so. This is a matter for schools to decide.
Schools play an important role in preparing pupils for life in modern Britain. This involves supporting pupils to understand the society in which they grow up and develop their sense of British identity. Schools in England are free to display the national flag of the United Kingdom, or the St. George’s cross, and the Department does not provide any specific guidance on these matters.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has plans to ensure that schools are celebrating St. George’s Day on 23 April 2021.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Schools are free to celebrate St George’s Day, although there were no plans from the Department to ensure that they did so. This is a matter for schools to decide.
Schools play an important role in preparing pupils for life in modern Britain. This involves supporting pupils to understand the society in which they grow up and develop their sense of British identity. Schools in England are free to display the national flag of the United Kingdom, or the St. George’s cross, and the Department does not provide any specific guidance on these matters.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to make St. George’s Day a public holiday in England.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government regularly receives requests for additional bank and public holidays to commemorate a variety of occasions such as cultural, historical and religious events. The current pattern of bank and public holidays is well established and acknowledged.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to promote the importance of celebrating St. Georges day.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Arts Council England, a DCMS Arm’s Length Body, is supporting a number of organisations across the country who will be running events including York Castle Museum which will be running a virtual St George’s Day on their social media including sharing St George related objects from the Museum’s collections.
My department continues to promote the importance of celebrating St George’s Day through its flag flying policy for designated days which encourages the flying of the Union Flag on UK Government Buildings.
St George’s Day is a designated day. UK Government Buildings, where they have more than one flag pole, are also encouraged to fly the Cross of St George alongside the Union Flag. Individuals, local authorities and other organisations may fly the Cross of St George if they wish.