About the Scottish Parliament

1. Parliamentary resources are provided by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) to support Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in undertaking their parliamentary duties.

2. This policy is issued by the SPCB with the purpose of ensuring the regularity and propriety of the management of public money and resources, which the SPCB is accountable for under the Scotland Act 1998.

Interpretation

3. In this policy, the following expressions are to be interpreted as follows:

• “parliamentary resources” – means any resource whether financial or otherwise provided to Members by the SPCB, either pursuant to the Scotland Act 1998 (and any subsequent changes to that Act) (provision of property, staff and services to the Scottish Parliament) or in accordance with the Scheme, including items such as office equipment and furniture, IT and mail systems, meeting rooms and financial assistance to non-Government party groups
• “the Scheme” – means the Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme approved by the Scottish Parliament. Where parliamentary resources are provided in accordance with the Scheme, this policy is to be applied alongside the Scheme
• “Member’s duties” – means activity in relation to the business of the Scottish Parliament and constituency or regional business, wherever undertaken, in the public office of a Member of the Scottish Parliament

Application

4. The policy applies to Members whenever they make use of parliamentary resources, and compliance with the policy is required under Section 7, paragraph 3, of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

5. In making use of parliamentary resources Members must act prudently and have regard to:

• the Nolan principles of standards in public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership) and how these are reflected in the principles of this policy
• the need to secure value for money in the expenditure of public funds and observe the SPCB’s finance and governance arrangements in relation to spending of public monies
• the SPCB’s obligations in discharging its function in relation to securing equality of opportunity for all people and the promotion of
• sustainable development
• maintaining the reputation of the Parliament and public confidence in the use of SPCB resources
• the limitations of the overall resources made available to Members where these are provided through a central service, and the need for these services to be distributed fairly and reasonably among Members

Personal Accountability

6. Members are personally accountable for the use of parliamentary resources made available to them, all expenses they incur, and for any parliamentary resources used in their name.

7. Members may delegate the organisation and carrying out of activities to others, such as members of their staff, but Members should bear in mind that when they put in place such arrangements, they remain accountable for the use of parliamentary resources provided to them and their staff.

8. The following are examples of activities that would breach the policy if they involved use of parliamentary resources to a significant extent:

• permitting a third party to use parliamentary resources for activities other than the member’s parliamentary duties
• personal, business, or commercial activities or communications
• party political activity such as seeking to effect support for a political party
• work which is conducted for or at the behest of a political party
• the organisation, publicising of or attendance at party political meetings
• maintaining the internal organisation of a political party
• campaigning to achieve a particular result in an election to any public office, or in a referendum
• activities resulting in financial gain to the Member or any other person

9. The SPCB appreciates there can sometimes be a fine line between activity that is parliamentary and party political, and that maintaining a strict separation between business that properly relates to Members’ duties and party-political activity can sometimes be difficult. Members must use their judgement accordingly and where there is any doubt, Members are encouraged to seek advice from the relevant parliamentary official. Regardless of whether advice is sought or followed, Members remain responsible and accountable at all times for their own assessment of whether use of a parliamentary resource falls within what is permitted by this policy.

10. This position is intended to be strictly observed, whilst an incidental occurrence of or reference to something party political during the otherwise proper conduct of a Member’s duties may not amount to a breach of this policy, a series of otherwise incidental occurrences would amount to a breach.

11. Members should also bear in mind that elections and referendums are periods of heightened political sensitivity and special provisions may be applied during such periods in addition to the provisions in this policy. Such measures will be notified to Members.

Complaints Process

12. Under the Code of Conduct, complaints about the use of SPCB facilities, resources and services and breaches of SPCB policies are to be made to the SPCB.

13. The SPCB may refer any complaint relating to the use of parliamentary resources, facilities and services and breaches of any SPCB policies to the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee.

Contact Point

14. Should you have any questions about this policy, or its application please contact Mairi Pearson, the Head of Allowances Office on 0131 348 6609 or by email at [email protected]