SPCB Announces Changes to Holyrood Building Public Opening Times

19 December 2007

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Changes to the opening hours for members of the public visiting the Scottish Parliament building were announced today.

Beginning on 10 February 2008, Holyrood will move to six days a week public opening, with the building closed on Sundays except to passholders and to visitors who are accompanied by passholders.

As part of significant new measures, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) will also aim to double the number of school students and young people who take part in Holyrood’s education programme.

Over all, the moves will see Holyrood shift resources and emphasis towards increased public engagement in new areas.

While visitor figures to Holyrood remain strong, the Parliament’s Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson said that Sunday opening had served its purpose but it was time to take stock and seek new opportunities for involving the public in the Parliament’s work. Mr Fergusson said:

“Initially, the SPCB decided to open for seven days a week at Holyrood to facilitate the huge public interest in the new Parliament building. This worked well with over a million visitors having visited the Parliament to date.

“However, three years on, our data on visitor numbers and behaviour indicate that Sundays are relatively quiet days. The majority of our visitors naturally wish to visit during the working week when Parliament is sitting and there is an opportunity to see business in action and engage with MSPs.

“The SPCB has decided that we will therefore concentrate our activities on a six day week, with Saturday remaining as an opportunity for those who work during the week.”

On Parliament’s expanded education activities, Mr Fergusson added:

“The start of the new year brings the opportunity to shift focus towards other areas of engagement. I am delighted to announce that we will, effectively, be able to double the number of school students that we can welcome to Holyrood or visit in their communities across Scotland.

“During the 2008/09 school year we will expand both our inward and outward education programmes for schools and offer a new free school tour for pupils and teachers who visit Holyrood.”

The SPCB expects to double the number of young people on inward and outward programmes from 20,000 to more than 40,000.

SPCB’s decision

In reaching the decision to move to six days a week opening the SPCB took into account over all visitor figures to Holyrood and Sunday opening figures.

Figures for the first full financial year at Holyrood 2005/06 showed that the building was open to the public on 341 days, attracting 371,755 visitors. In 2006/07 the building was open to the public on 357 days, attracting 317,755 visitors.

Based on current attendance patterns and analysis, future annual figures are likely to be circa 325,000 to 350,000.

In summer months Holyrood received an average of 1,330 visitors on business days, compared to 730 visitors on Saturdays and 475 on Sundays.

In winter months, the figures were 1,100 for business days, 600 on Saturdays and 430 on Sundays.

SPCB’s 2008-09 budget

Tom McCabe MSP reported to the Parliament’s Finance Committee in November 2007 that in addition to next year’s budget bid being lower in real terms than the current year’s budget, the SPCB would continue to pursue opportunities to contain expenditure wherever it can.

It is anticipated that Sunday closing will enable the SPCB to save in the order of £250,000 per annum by savings in operating costs, utilities costs, and through more cost effective scheduling of maintenance.

Wider trends in visitors to Holyrood post-May 2007

The latest full month visitor figures for October 2007 show that 36,919 people visited Holyrood, an increase of more than 1,800 on October 2006. Similarly for the first two weeks in November there were 13,325 visitors, an increase of more than 1,400 on the same period in 2006.

Demand for tickets for First Minister’s Question Time continues to outstrip supply.

Increased visitor figures can also be attributed to the 25 per cent increase in the number of engagement events being held at Holyrood which offer a range of different sectors opportunities to meet and discuss issues with Members.

September to December 2007 saw a 25 per cent increase in such events when compared to the same period in each of the previous two years at Holyrood, with approximately 10, 000 people attending events during this time.

In addition, Holyrood has developed a range of relevant temporary exhibitions which are free to the public. This year’s exhibitions include the World Press Photo exhibition with more than 30,000 visitors, the 300 th anniversary of the Act of Union and, running until 6 January, ‘Cridhe na Gaidhealtachd – Craft in the Highlands’ exhibition.

Monday to Saturday hours

In November, Tom McCabe reported to the Finance Committee that Holyrood would close to the public for the week of the February recess each year to allow savings from annual maintenance work scheduling to be made. This allows maintenance work to be carried out during normal working hours rather than overnight as has been past practice.

Full details of the new opening hours, including some minor adjustments to weekday and parliamentary term openings, can be found at: