SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT INFORMATION CENTRE ANNOUNCES CONTRACT OPPORTUNITIES

The Scottish Parliament's in-house research specialists SPICe (Scottish Parliament Information Centre) are offering researchers the opportunity to put forward their names for future possible research contracts.

So whether you are an expert on health, education, business, law and order, whatever your specialism, if the Parliament covers it there could be a research contract for you.

Head of Research at the Parliament, Janet Seaton, explains:

"SPICe is responsible for providing all MSPs and parliamentary committees direct research support on a broad range of subjects. Where we can't provide that information ourselves, we can commission external organisations to carry out the work.

"Most of the work done in SPICe is generated by the Parliament's committees. The committees shoulder the main burden of responsibility for scrutinising government policy and legislation and consideration of relevant subjects. As a result they rely upon our specialist support for information and research on topical issues. Once a committee identifies the research that it requires, it falls to SPICe to commission and manage that body of work.

"The good news is that we have a budget of £170,000 available for the financial year 2000 - 2001 to commission external research on behalf of the parliamentary committees. This is the first year in which the procedures for commissioning external research will be fully operational. And it is likely that research work will be commissioned by way of selective competitive tendering."

Those researchers interested in registering interest in committee subject areas should visit the website (address below) and complete the short application form. All that is required is a 100 word summary of your main areas of research interest, your qualifications, experience and brief details of any recent relevant work.

The information submitted will be used by SPICe to inform decisions about which contractors to invite to tender. Please note that submission of an expression of interest does not a guarantee an invitation to tender.

Application Form

If you require any further information in the meantime please contact:

Connie Smith
Senior Research Assessor
SPICe
Scottish Parliament Headquarters
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Tel 0131 348 5416
Fax 0131 348 5378
connie.smith@scottish.parliament.uk