Editing Flag of Scotland (section)

===General use===
In Scotland, the Saltire can be flown at any time by any individual, company, local authority, hospital or school without obtaining express consent.<ref name="lyon" /><ref name="Govt"/> Many local authorities in Scotland fly the Saltire from Council Buildings.  However, in 2007 [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]] Council approved a proposal to replace the Saltire on Council Buildings with a new Angus flag, based on the council's coat of arms. This move led to public outcry across Scotland with more than 7,000 people signing a petition opposing the council's move, leading to a compromise whereby the Angus flag would not replace but be flown alongside the Saltire on council buildings.<ref>{{cite news | first=Philip | last=Murray | title=Saltire and new Angus Flag will be pole buddies | date=12 November 2007 | publisher=Johnston Press Digital Publishing | url=http://www.forfardispatch.co.uk/local/SALTIRE-AND-NEW-ANGUS-FLAG.3479868.jp | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530080023/http://www.forfardispatch.co.uk/local/SALTIRE-AND-NEW-ANGUS-FLAG.3479868.jp | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 May 2012 | work=Forfar Dispatch | access-date=2 December 2009 }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, owners of vehicles registered in [[Great Britain]] have the option of displaying the Saltire on the [[Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom|vehicle registration plate]], in conjunction with the letters "SCO" or alternatively the word "Scotland".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_067666.pdf |title=Section 9: National Flags on number plates |access-date=3 December 2009 |date=27 April 2009 |work=(PDF), INF104: Vehicle registration numbers and number plates |publisher=DVLA }}</ref> In 1999, the [[Royal Mail]] issued a series of [[Country definitives#Pictorial issues|pictorial stamps for Scotland]], with the '2nd' value stamp depicting the Flag of Scotland.<ref>{{cite book|title=Stanley Gibbons Great Britain Concise Stamp Catalogue|publisher=Stanley Gibbons Ltd|isbn=978-0-85259-808-5|year=2011|first=Hugh|last=Jeffries}}</ref> In Northern Ireland, sections of the [[Protestant]] community routinely employ the Saltire as a means of demonstrating and celebrating their [[Ulster Scots people|Ulster-Scots]] heritage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/images/symbols/flags.htm |title=Symbols in Northern Ireland – Flags Used in the Region |access-date=1 December 2009 |work=CAIN Web Service |publisher=University of Ulster |archive-date=14 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514131904/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/images/symbols/flags.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Scottish Red Ensign.svg|thumb|{{FIAV|historical}} [[Royal Scots Navy]] red [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]]]] Use of the Saltire at sea as a ''[[Maritime flags#Jacks|Jack]]'' or ''[[courtesy flag]]'' has been observed, including as a ''Jack'' on the Scottish Government's Marine Patrol Vessel (MPV) ''Jura''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Compliance |title=Marine and Fisheries – Compliance |access-date=28 September 2011 |publisher=Scottish Government }}</ref>  The ferry operator [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] routinely flies the Saltire as a ''Jack'' on vessels which have a bow staff, including when such vessels are underway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.calmac.co.uk/getimage.aspx.ID-146922 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613205238/http://www.calmac.co.uk/getimage.aspx.ID-146922 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2011 |title=CalMac image |access-date=1 December 2009 |publisher=CalMac }}</ref> This practice has also been observed on the [[PS Waverley|Paddle Steamer Waverley]] when operating in and around the [[Firth of Clyde]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/pictures/25.jpg |title=Waverley Excursions image |access-date=1 December 2009 |publisher=Waverley Excursions |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608124506/http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/pictures/25.jpg |archive-date=8 June 2011  }}</ref> The practice of maritime vessels adopting the Saltire, for use as a ''jack'' or ''courtesy flag'', may lead to possible confusion in that the Saltire closely resembles the maritime [[signal flag]] '''M''', ''"MIKE"'', which is used to indicate "''My vessel is stopped; making no way.''"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=273 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070211081152/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=273 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 February 2007 |title=US Navy Signal Flags |access-date=18 December 2009 |date=17 August 2009 |publisher=United States Navy}}</ref> For the benefit of Scottish [[seafarers]] wishing to display a Scottish flag other than the Saltire, thereby avoiding confusion and a possible fine, a campaign was launched in November 2007 seeking official recognition for the historic Scottish [[Red Ensign]].{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} Despite having last been used officially by the pre-[[Acts of Union 1707|Union]] [[Royal Scots Navy]] and merchant marine fleets in the 18th century,<ref>{{cite book|title=Flags at sea: a guide to the flags flown at sea by British and some foreign ...|publisher=HMSO|isbn=0-11-290389-4 |year=1986|first=Timothy|last=Wilson|author2=National Maritime Museum (Great Britain)|quote=Scottish red ensign 17th-18th century|page=66}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=0mUTAAAAYAAJ&q=%22scottish+red+ensign%22 Google Books] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424193959/https://books.google.com/books?id=0mUTAAAAYAAJ&q=%22scottish+red+ensign%22&dq=%22scottish+red+ensign%22&lr=&as_brr=0&client=firefox-a&cd=6 |date=24 April 2016 }}</ref> the flag continues to be produced by flag manufacturers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.duncanyacht.co.uk/showpartnumber.asp?CategoryID=2558&PartNumberID=302707 |title=1yd Scottish Ensign |access-date=16 September 2011 |publisher=www.duncanyacht.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402124540/http://www.duncanyacht.co.uk/showpartnumber.asp?CategoryID=2558&PartNumberID=302707 |archive-date=2 April 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishflagtrust.com/AboutFlagssheet.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716020145/http://www.scottishflagtrust.com/AboutFlagssheet.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 July 2011 |title=Supply of Flags |access-date=19 December 2009 |date=n.d. |work=PDF, Proper use of the Saltire |publisher=The Scottish Flag Trust}}</ref> and its unofficial use by private citizens on water has been observed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotsindependent.org/features/orgs/images/red_ensign.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121115618/http://www.scotsindependent.org/features/orgs/images/red_ensign.jpg |url-status=usurped |archive-date=21 November 2008 |title=The Scottish Flag Trust: "Scottish Red Ensign" (.jpg image) |access-date=18 December 2009 |publisher=Scots Independent Newspaper }}</ref>