What it means to be a witness

Unlike a witness in a trial or court, a committee witness is another way of describing someone who wants to tell their story and give their opinions on a topic the committee is discussing.

There is no right or wrong way to be a committee witness. You're there to share your story, knowledge or expertise.

Feeling prepared

The best way to feel prepared about what might happen on the day is read through this guidance. If you'd like further information, you can contact the clerking team. They can explain the work the committee's doing and tell you who else might be sharing their views. They can also help if you have any specific accessibility requirements.

Before you come you can also:

• look at the work the committee has done already


• watch previous committee sessions on the Parliament TV "Video Archive" section

This can help you get an idea of how the committee works and what to expect.

Other ways of sharing your views

It might be possible for you to share your views through a video link if required. You can let us know in advance if you want to do this by getting in touch with the clerk for your committee.

Sharing your views in another language 

You can share your views as a witness at a committee in any language, including British Sign Language and Gaelic. Just let the committee clerk know if you’d like to do this, giving us as much notice as possible. 

Bringing someone with you

You’re welcome to bring someone with you when you come to be a witness, and they can sit in the public gallery. They can get tickets from the Visitor Services desk in the Main Hall on the day or order tickets in advance. 

On rare occasions a committee might ask you to share your views in private. If this happens and you'd like someone with you, speak to the clerks about what might be possible.

Accessible facilities at the Scottish Parliament

Accessible facilities include:

• induction loops for those hard of hearing
• disabled and changing places toilets
• quiet spaces
• first aid room

Please read our accessibility guide for more details.

Read our accessibility guide here

Lockers

There are lockers and a baggage storage facility if you would like to leave bags and coats whilst you're in the committee meeting.

You will need a £1 coin to operate the locker, which is returned to you after use.

Crèche

Our creche is currently closed while we tender for a new provider. The new service is expected to open in spring 2023. We’ll announce more information nearer the time.

Café

The Café is open at these times:

Monday and Friday and public holidays –

• 10am to 5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, when parliament is sitting –

• 9am to 6pm (last entry 5.30pm)

Where is the Scottish Parliament?

The Scottish Parliament is near Arthur's Seat and at the bottom of the Royal Mile, also known as the Canongate. It’s also opposite Holyrood Palace. The postal address is Horse Wynd EH99 1SP.

By car

There’s no parking available at the Scottish Parliament. The nearest car parks are at Dynamic Earth, St John's Hill, or next to Edinburgh Waverley Station (entrance on New Street).

Disabled parking 

Blue badge disabled parking is available on Horse Wynd, opposite the Parliament's main public entrance. Spaces are not bookable in advance as they’re managed by the City of Edinburgh Council. 

By bus

Lothian Buses run one service that stops at the Parliament - the number 35 (Scottish Parliament stop).

Head to Checkmybus Edinburgh for other bus routes stopping a short walking distance away.

By train

Edinburgh Waverley is a 15 minute walk or a short taxi ride to the Parliament. Find out about accessibility at Edinburgh Waverley station on the NetworkRail website.

By bike

Public bike racks are available near the public entrance to the building.

Going through security

We have a bag check system at our public entrance. You’ll need to take off your coat and pass your bags through our scanner. If security need to search you, you can ask to do this in private if you feel more comfortable. 

If you're running late

It can take 15-20 minutes to go through security if it's busy. If you’re running late, tell the security staff in the main entrance and they’ll try to speed up your entry into the building. 

If your meeting is before 8.30am

If you arrive before 8.30am the building might not be open to the public yet. If this happens, call security using the square CALL button on the right-hand side of the sliding door at the main entrance. Let them know that you’re there to be a witness at a committee meeting.

Visitor Services

When you’ve gone through security, make your way to the Visitor Services desk. As you walk into the Main Hall, this is on the right-hand side.

Tell them you’re there to be a witness at a committee and you’ll be given a witness pass.

Someone will collect you to take you to the committee meeting room, or a waiting room.

What to expect in the committee room

The MSPs will usually already be in the room and the meeting may have begun when you get there. Please switch off any mobile devices before you go into the meeting room. You’ll have a name plate to indicate where to sit. Water will be provided on the table.

You can bring notes with you to the meeting. These notes can be on a laptop/tablet or on paper.

If you want to speak, you can gesture or catch the attention of the clerk or the convener. Wait for your microphone to go red before you start to speak.

Types of committee meeting

There are usually 2 types of committee meeting - roundtable and panel.

At a roundtable meeting, witnesses and committee members sit together around the committee table

A panel meeting is usually more of a question and answer format. Witnesses sit at one end of the table, opposite MSPs.

Don't worry if you can't answer all the questions you’re asked at the time. If you're not sure of something, it's fine to email information to the clerking team after the session.

The clerks will let you know what type of meeting you are attending, or if the meeting will be in a different format. 

Who is at a committee meeting

Some of the following people will be sitting around the committee table with you. Others might be in the room, either at the side or in the public gallery.

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) 

Committees are made up of MSPs from different parties. You can find out which MSPs you might see at your meeting on the committee page. 

Clerks

The committee clerks are your main point of contact. Clerks are there to support the committee by preparing and organising meetings. They sit next to the Convener to give them advice on procedures if needed. They'll be watching to see who wants to speak in a meeting so if you'd like to answer a question, catch their eye and they'll let the Convener know. 

Official Report staff

Official Report staff produce the Official Report (OR) – a written record of each public committee meeting. After the meeting, if OR staff want to check something you said, such as the spelling of a name, they might pass you a note or speak to you.

The OR of your meeting will be published online, usually within a few days. 

Broadcasting 

All public committee meetings are broadcast live online on the Scottish Parliament TV website. Broadcasting will also control your microphone. You don’t need to switch anything on or off. 

Adviser 

Sometimes committees will have expert advisers for a piece of work. They’ll sit by the convener. 

Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) researchers 

SPICe are researchers who support committees and MSPs. For example, they write briefings for MSPs and give committees background information on inquiries. 

Parliament Communication Manager 

Communication managers work with the media, and answer questions from journalists that might come out of a committee meeting. 

Community Participation Specialist 

Each committee has a Community Participation Specialist who helps to get communities involved in committee's work. 

Security 

There will be members of the security team outside the door, and seated inside the room when a committee is meeting open to the public.

Public 

Each committee room has a public gallery. Members of the public can come and go during a public meeting.

Journalists

Journalists can watch committee meetings. They often sit in the front row of the gallery and might take notes.

Next steps

After the meeting, the committee can:

• publish a report with recommendations to the Scottish Government
• write a letter to take the issue further
• agree to consider the issue again in the future

Watch the meeting again

After the meeting, and usually within a few hours, you’ll be able watch the meeting you were at on Scottish Parliament TV and also share clips on social media. 

Read the Official Report (OR)

The Official Report is usually published within a few days. The OR publication schedule will tell you when.

You’ll be emailed a link when it's available. You’ll have 20 days to suggest corrections to the report of what you said.

Claiming your expenses

You can claim expenses for things like travel, food and childcare. To claim expenses, you must let the clerks know before you come. Keep hold of all your receipts and give them to the clerks on the day.

Ways to keep in touch

We’d love it if you wanted to keep in touch. You can be added to our mailing lists, sign up to our weekly eBulletins and follow us on Twitter.

Your personal information

We treat all personal information, such as your name, contact details, and photographs with the highest level of privacy.

We’ve created a privacy notice about how we might use your information if you’re sharing your views at a committee meeting. There, you can also find information about children and young people under 16 speaking at a committee meeting. 

You can also ask for further information under the Freedom of Information act.