http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1025523/230-Thats-Department-Culture-spent-promoting-St-Georges-Day-FIVE-years.html

英国：五年国庆累计花费230英镑！



　　英国文化部长承认，在过去5年里仅花了230英镑来庆祝英格兰的国庆日。
　　据悉，4月23日的圣乔治日，即英格兰的国庆日，是一个名存实亡的节日。
　　英国文化部长玛格丽特8226;霍奇(Margaret Hodge)承认，英国政府今年只花了116英镑来庆祝圣乔治日，比2007年多了两英镑，而之前的3年都是一文不花，5年来共花230英镑。
　　这一坦白立刻招致了爱国人士的愤怒。
　　下议院议员安德鲁8226;罗辛戴尔说：“这真是丢人，我们肯定是世界上唯一一个在庆国庆日上分文不花的国家。我怎么也没料想到，庆国庆上花费会如此之少。”他还呼吁文化部门要改变这一现状。
　　据悉，圣乔治日这天全民并不放假，人们兴趣全无。



163;230: That's how much Department for Culture spent promoting St George's Day in FIVE years

By Daniel Martin
Last updated at 8:49 AM on 11th June 2008

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Icon: But the Department for Culture, Media and Sport only spent 163;230 promoting St George's Day over a five year period

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 163;230 promoting St George's Day.

In 2008 they spent 163;116. In 2007, 163;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.'

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