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Mu Phàrlamaid na h-Alba

Parliamentary staff offices

View organisational chart for the Scottish Parliament (52KB, pdf) posted 16 May 2024


Allowances Office

The Allowances Office manage the payment of travel and expenses for Members, their staff and Parliament staff such as:

  • overnight accommodation
  • travel expenses
  • MSP disability allowance
  • MSP staff costs
  • MSP office costs
  • when an MSP is leaving office (winding up costs)

Payments for Members and their staff are made through the Members' Expenses Scheme.

Learn more about the Members' expenses scheme

Broadcasting and Production Services Office

The Broadcasting Office is responsible for the Parliament's sound and video including:

  • supplying sound and video for television companies
  • providing Parliament with its sound and electronic-voting system
  • making videos to explain the work of the Parliament
  • running the Scottish Parliament TV website 

BSL Services 

BSL Services promote the work of the Parliament and public engagement in British Sign Language.

It develops and delivers the Parliament’s BSL Plan.

Learn more about our work in BSL 

Business Information Technology (BIT) Office

The BIT Office support the Parliament in its main building at Holyrood and in MSP offices across Scotland.

It provides:

  • technology to make parliamentary business work
  • IT support to MSPs, their staff and Parliament staff

Chamber Office

The Chamber Office:

  • support the Presiding Officers for all meetings of the Parliament
  • support debates and votes in the Chamber
  • processes parliamentary questions and motions
  • advise MSPs about the rules for motions and amendments

The Chamber Office is made up of 4 teams:

  • Chamber Desk - manage parliamentary questions, motions and amendments
  • Parliamentary Business Team - support business in the Chamber
  • Legislation Team - manage all parts of the Bill processes
  • Non-Government Bills Unit - manage proposals for Members' Bills and Committee Bills

Staff in the Chamber Office also provide support to the Parliamentary Bureau.

Clerk/ Chief Executive’s Office

The Chief Executive’s Office support the Clerk/Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive.

It also supports the:

  • Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB)
  • Leadership Group
  • Advisory Audit Board

The office is responsible for:

  • supporting the SPCB in its role with parliamentary funded officeholders
  • electoral matters relating to the Parliament

Committee Office

The Committee Office support the committees and Conveners' Group (a group of all the committee conveners). 

Education Services

Education Services provide classroom sessions and resources about the Parliament to students in Scotland.

Learn more about Education Services

Events and Exhibitions 

Events and Exhibitions manage:

  • events and exhibitions in the Parliament
  • the Parliament's collection of contemporary art and crafts

Learn more about Events and Exhibitions

Facilities Management

Facilities Management manages and maintains the Parliament's accommodation and many of its services such as cleaning and catering.

It advises on:

  • health and safety
  • fire safety management
  • sustainable development
  • local office support

Finance Office

The Finance Office pay, manage and report on the Parliaments finances.

Gaelic Services 

Gaelic Services promote the work of the Parliament and public engagement in Gaelic.

It develops and delivers the Parliament’s Gaelic Language Plan.

Learn more about our work in Gaelic 

Information Management and Governance Team

The Information Management and Governance team provide guidance and training in:

  • records management
  • information management
  • archiving
  • freedom of information
  • data protection
  • copyright
  • open data 

International Relations Office

The International Relations Office (IRO) help the Parliament develop and strengthen its links with other:

  • parliaments
  • governments
  • international organisations

Learn more about the work of the IRO

Legal Services Office

Solicitors in the Legal Services Office are the lawyers for the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB). They provide legal advice to:

  • committees
  • the Presiding Officers
  • the SPCB and all offices in the parliament
  • MSPs – subject to conditions set by the SPCB

Lobbying Register

The team: 

  • manages the Lobbying Register website and supports new and existing users
  • develops policy and guidance for those engaged in lobbying, as regulated by the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016
  • promotes use of the Lobbying Register to internal and external stakeholders 
  • ensures compliance with all statutory duties related to the Lobbying Register 

Official Report

The Official Report prepares an almost word for word written record of everything said in public meetings of Parliament and committees.

Learn more about the Official Report

Office of the Deputy Chief Executive

The Office of the Deputy Chief Executive is responsible for several functions including:

  • strategy
  • planning
  • risk Management
  • project and portfolio management
  • corporate reporting
  • audit

Office of the Presiding Officer

The Office of the Presiding Officer provide advice and support to the Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officers.

Learn more about the Presiding Officer

Parliament Communications Office (PCO)

PCO promotes the work of the Parliament and uses our communications channels to increase understanding of the Parliament and support public engagement online.  

It provides information to journalists on:

  • committees
  • Chamber business
  • the work of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
  • public engagement activities

PCO manages the Parliament’s:

  • websites
  • social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter
  • digital consultation tools
  • digital campaigns

It also:

  • produces videos, short interviews and podcasts
  • trains and supports staff
  • provides social media advice to MSPs and their staff 

Participation and Communities Team

The Participation and Communities Team (PACT) support people living in Scotland to:

  • get involved with the work of committees
  • share their views and experiences

Learn more about PACT

Pay and Pensions Office

The Pay and Pensions Office provide payroll and pension administration to:

  • MSPs
  • MSP staff
  • parliament staff
  • Officeholders

People and Culture Office

The People and Culture Office provide advice and services to MSPs and Parliament staff on:

Procurement Office

The Procurement Office source and procure goods and services for the Parliament.

Find out how to provide goods and services to us

Public Information and languages

Public Information and languages:

  • responds to public enquiries
  • develops information resources
  • administers the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body complaints procedure
  • arranges for translations, interpretation and transcription to other formats and languages

Public Engagement Services Office

This is the wider office that includes the following teams:

  • Education Services
  • Public Information and languages
  • Gaelic Services
  • BSL Services
  • Visitor Services

Resilience Office

The Resilience Office helps all areas of the Parliament think about the issues that might disrupt what they normally do. It then develops plans to deal with those disruptions when they occur.

Scotland’s Futures Forum

Scotland’s Futures Forum is the Parliament’s think-tank. It works with MSPs and others to look beyond electoral cycles to the long-term opportunities and challenges facing Scotland. 

Find out more about the Futures Forum’s work on its website

Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe)

SPICe provide MSPs, MSP staff and Parliament staff with:

  • facts, analysis and briefings
  • a research and enquiry service
  • impartial knowledge
  • news and current affairs
  • access to academic expertise

Security Office

The Security Office provide security for the Parliament building and the people who work in it. It protects:

  • MSPs, staff, contractors and members of the public
  • Parliament equipment and assets

It also helps make sure business runs smoothly and people who want to visit the Parliament are safe.

Sustainability Team

The Sustainability Team is responsible for ensuring that the Parliament demonstrates leadership in sustainable development. It does this by;

  • meeting the sustainability duties for public sector bodies (reducing emissions, adapting to climate change, acting sustainably)
  • supporting the delivery of the Sustainable Development Programme and Plan
  • supporting the Parliament to reach net zero emissions
  • providing advice and information about sustainability to passholders
  • embedding sustainable development thinking across the organisation
  • developing training and knowledge building on sustainable development

Visitor Services

Visitor Services provide:

  • tickets for public galleries in the Chamber and committee rooms
  • accessible support and facilities for visitors
  • guided tours and short talks

It also runs the Parliament gift shop.

Learn more about Visiting


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