Researchers say backing for a national holiday is growing

Three quarters of those questioned in the survey for a Scottish whisky distiller backed the move.

A similar poll by Glenlivet in 2001 showed 68% support, suggesting growing approval of the idea.

The younger generation showed the greatest enthusiasm among the 1,000 Scots who were questioned for the survey, conducted by Mori.

The proposal already has the backing of Cardinal Keith O'Brien, head of the Catholic Church in Scotland.

He believes the country's patron saint is "taken for granted".

The survey suggested that Scots want to have a day when they can honour St Andrew and feel proud of their country.

Day of celebration

First Minister Jack McConnell was urged almost a year ago to take the lead in promoting St Andrew's Day.

The call was made by Liberal Democrat MSP Donald Gorrie who wants 30 November to be celebrated like Thanksgiving in the United States.

Mr Gorrie also tabled a Holyrood motion urging the Scottish Parliament to pursue the matter "vigorously".

He believed it would attract more visitors to the country.

The MSP for Central Scotland region said he wanted the first minister and the parliament to bring together leading Scottish figures to create a framework for a national celebration on which local communities could build.

Donald Gorrie tabled a motion backing the move

He said a national day of celebrations would attract Scots from abroad and overseas tourists to visit the country around that date.

It could serve as a focus to promote Scotland and Scottish products, arts organisations could put on performances by Scots past and present, and schools, colleges and sporting organisations could mark the event.

Mr Gorrie added: "All this would greatly increase Scots' self-awareness and self-belief."

The Scottish National Party complained in 2002 that Britain's overseas embassies were not doing enough to celebrate St Andrew's Day.

'No plans'

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.

The then party leader John Swinney said that, in contrast, Ireland held events to mark St Patrick's Day at all of its overseas embassies and consulates.

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

But an executive spokesman said: "We have no plans to make St Andrew's Day a public holiday.