The Northern Ireland Office has said it is "exploring the feasibility" of flying the Union flag from its Belfast city centre headquarters.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris' department relocated from the Stormont estate to Erskine House near Belfast City Hall almost a year ago.
UK government departments have been encouraged to fly the Union flag all year round rather than only on designated days since 2021 when official guidelines were changed.
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In Northern Ireland some government buildings are legally restricted to flying the flag on designated days, but Erskine House is not bound by these regulations.
The NIO last year declined to say whether the Union flag would be flown from the eight-storey building every day, on designated days, or not at all.
But the department has now publicly confirmed it is exploring the possibility.
It outlined how in Northern Ireland, designated days for flying the Union flag from devolved government buildings are enshrined in legislation - the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000.
In a response to Belfast Live, it added: "Up until January 2022, the Northern Ireland Office was the lead tenant in Stormont House and whilst it was not a legal requirement, we followed the principles of the Flags Regulations and the Union flag was flown on the designated days.
"The NIO moved to Erskine House on February 7, 2022, which is not designated for the purposes of the Flags Regulations. We are not the lead tenant in Erskine House and are not responsible for decisions around flag-flying for the building.
"The Union flag is not currently flown at Erskine House and we are currently exploring the feasibility of flag-flying at Erskine House."
TUV party secretary and North Belfast representative Ron McDowell accused the NIO of being "clearly disinterested" in the matter.
He said: "They have been operating out of Erskine House for months now and are still stalling on the idea of displaying the flag of our nation there even on designated days.
"When Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth passed away last year we had huge outpourings of affection in Northern Ireland and demonstrations of loyalty to the monarchy and all it represents.
"It is shameful that in a year which will see the coronation of our new King there is no urgency on the part of the NIO to ensure that this historic event will be marked by way of the national flag flying from their headquarters here."
Erskine House acts as a "UK government hub" in Belfast, with staff from departments including HMRC, the Competitions and Marketing Authority and the Department for Levelling Up also moving to the Chichester Street location.
The NIO last year said its city centre headquarters would provide a "more accessible, open and modern civil service department" which could "engage more effectively with a broad range of stakeholders".
Flags and emblems remain contentious in Northern Ireland's divided communities.
In 2012 a decision by Belfast City Council to reduce the number of days on which the Union flag is flown from City Hall sparked widespread protests and disorder.
A long-delayed £800,000 Stormont report aimed at addressing cultural disputes was published in 2021 but was unable to reach consensus on many issues over flags.
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