Ministers should be tackling the "abuse" of Scotland's national flag rather than considering its shade of blue, according to an expert.

A Scottish Parliament committee has asked the justice minister to think again after he rejected calls to specify the hue of blue which should be used on the Saltire.

Jim Wallace argued that such a move would "create more difficulties than it might solve".

As long as it is blue, that is all that is required under the laws of arms in Scotland

Romilly Squire

His stance was supported by Romilly Squire, the chairman of the Heraldry Society of Scotland.

The society was created 25 years ago to promote the study of heraldry and encourage its correct use north of the border.

Mr Squire told BBC Scotland that it was "completely pointless" to waste time on specifying the exact shade of blue of the St Andrew's Cross.

"As long as it is blue, that is all that is required under the laws of arms in Scotland," he said.

However, he added: "They could legislate on a much more important aspect of the Saltire.

Array of blues

"That is its abuse by corporate bodies, advertisers, etc, using the national flag as a basis for advertising and other displays of corporate identity."

The issue was initially raised by Edinburgh man George Reid after he became fed up seeing the Saltire paraded in an array of blues.

He petitioned the Scottish Parliament, asking it to lay down one standard colour.

The Saltire is seen in a range of guises

The petitions committee backed his calls and put pressure on Mr Wallace to specify the exact shade to be used on the flag.

He wrote back saying that such a law would be expensive and difficult to enforce.

"The issue of guidance or the introductions of regulations on this matter are unnecessary in my view and would create more difficulties than they might solve," he wrote.

However, the committee said Mr Wallace should think again about the issue.

MSPs insisted he should at least fix a recommended shade for flag manufacturers and others so that all Scottish flags could start out the same colour.