Britain's overseas embassies are not doing enough to celebrate St Andrew's Day, the Scottish National Party has claimed.

Only five out of 67 British diplomatic outposts surveyed by the SNP staged any event to mark the day devoted to Scotland's patron saint.

In a speech to mark St Andrew's day, party leader John Swinney said these were the missions in Milan, Tallinn, Brussels, Luxembourg and Zagreb.

He said that by contrast, Ireland held events to mark St Patrick's Day at all its overseas embassies and consulates.

John Swinney: "Promote Scotland"

And while Ireland despatched President Mary McAleese, 18 ministers and two deputies to overseas St Patrick's Day events this year, only three Scotland Office ministers travelled abroad to use St Andrew's Day to promote Scotland, he said.

In an address to his party's national council meeting, Mr Swinney said: "Why should we put up with embassies - that we pay for - who treat Scotland as an afterthought?

"We need a government that will fight around the clock to sell Scotland abroad and that government will be the SNP government I lead."

And he claimed: "It is a total myth that handing economic powers to London provides stability for Scotland.

Diplomatic staff

"Recently we have seen a plunge in Scottish manufacturing exports.

"St Andrew's Day is a fantastic opportunity to promote Scotland and Scottish exports."

The Scottish Executive denied the SNP claims, insisting that British diplomatic staff worldwide were involved in events to mark St Andrew's Day.

More than 50 events to mark the anniversary around the world are being supported by our embassies

Tourism Minister Mike Watson

Tourism Minister Mike Watson, described Mr Swinney's comments as "absolute nonsense".

He said: "St Andrew's Day offers a great opportunity to capitalise on Scotland's success not just in our own country but right across the world.

"As part of our efforts to do that, First Minister Jack McConnell and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Helen Liddell, issued a joint St Andrew's Day message to the worldwide UK Embassy network last week.

"And more than 50 events to mark the anniversary around the world are being supported by our embassies."

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said that the first secretary of the embassy in Vienna is attending a ceilidh at the Vienna International School to mark Scotland's saint's day.

The British high commission in Zimbabwe are attending a Caledonian Society dinner, she added.