£230: That's how much Department for Culture spent promoting St George's Day in FIVE years

They were happy to fly the flag of St George on the patron saint's day.
But it seems ministers aren't quite so keen to put their money where their mouths are.

For, in the past five years, Labour has spent just £230 promoting St George's Day.

In 2008 they spent £116. In 2007, £114... and in the previous three years, nothing was spent at all.

This April, Downing Street proudly raised the flag, and Mr Brown's spokesman said: 'The prime minister's view is that of course we should celebrate our Britishness, but celebrating our Britishness does not mean we cannot also celebrate our Englishness, Scottishness, Welshness or Northern Irishness.'

Justice Secretary Jack Straw urged the English to reclaim the day from 'bigots'.

'Anyone proud to be English is equally proud of St George and what, down the ages, his myth and his flag have come to represent for this nation within the United Kingdom,' he wrote in the Daily Mail.

But yesterday, Margaret Hodge, the culture minister, admitted how little had been spent actually promoting the day.

Her department started flying the flag on the patron saint's day in 2007.

The figures were revealed in a written answer to the Commons following a request from the Tories.

Critics rounded on the Government's lack of funding. Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said: 'We must be the only country in the world that spends nothing or virtually nothing on celebrating its national day. I was expecting it to be low but not that low.

'There needs to be a change in the culture of Government in the way it approaches something like this,' added Mr Rosindell, who is chairman of the all-party St George's Day group.

Lord Tebbit, who is patron of the group, said: 'This marks the final abandonment of the culture of England. I'm quite sure the Government is spending lots of money on other cultures' celebrations.'

St Patrick's Day is a public holiday in Ireland. The Irish national day attracts far greater recognition in England than does St George. And pubs find it far easier to obtain a late licence for March 17.

In Scotland, St Andrew's Day is a voluntary public holiday, meaning banks are not forced to close.

Although St George may be out of favour financially, the notion of Britishness is very much in fashion with ministers.

Last week, they announced plans to make the August Bank Holiday a national celebration of 'Britishness'.

Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said that bringing together immigrants and UK citizens would bolster community relations.

He suggested a speech from the Queen, street parties, singing and carnivals against a backdrop of posters showing Winston Churchill and other historical figures.

A Department of Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said the £230 was spent on putting flags up on St George's Day at the department's offices in 2007 and 2008.

He added: 'We spend millions of pounds through tourism bodies marketing all aspects of the country to visitors.'