Public buildings, including job centres, schools and hospitals, are to be encouraged to fly the union jack and other national flags to boost national identity.

Ministers will this week announce the lifting of restrictions on flag flying that have been in force since 1924. They will allow public buildings to erect flagpoles and fly the union jack and national flags, including the cross of St George, the Saltire of Scotland and the red dragon of Wales every day.

At present, flying national flags from public buildings is restricted to 18 days a year, which include the Queen’s birthday and Remembrance Day.

Schools are expected to be allowed to fly the flag at half-mast to mark the death of a pupil, teacher or local figure. Until now flags could be flown at half-mast only after a special order from the Queen.

Individuals can fly flags outside their homes and officials have argued that national pride is being eroded because flags are not flown frequently on public buildings.

The government is also expected to scrap rules which state that the union jack must take precedence over all national flags. At the moment the flag of St George must not be flown in a superior position to a union jack and may be flown only on government buildings with two flagpoles.

Captain Malcolm Farrow, president of the Flag Institute, said: “Any nation that doesn’t fly the national flag from its government buildings every day of the week needs its head examined.”

The new rules would apply to all national government buildings in England, Scotland and Wales.

Additional reporting: Helen Brooks

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