Significant public demand for information about and access to The Scottish Parliament will be more than satisfied by the Parliament’s public information service, Sir David Steel said today.

Officially opening the Parliament’s Visitor Centre and Shop, the Presiding Officer said that the facilities available to visitors from home and abroad made sure that the Parliament presented itself to the public in a user-friendly way.

At the opening ceremony, Sir David told assembled guests:

"The cornerstone of The Scottish Parliament is that it should be accessible, open and responsive to all. The Public Information Service is an important contact point for a wide variety of people, enabling the aspirations of the Consultative Steering Group to be put into effect.

"The impressive, modern and colourful Visitor Centre is the focal point for the Parliament presenting itself to the general public and special interest groups in a user-friendly way. It is a key indicator that the Parliament is satisfying the strong public demand for information as well as for educating visitors and raising awareness of the role and the function of the Scottish Parliament. It is something that does not exist at Westminster.

"These facilities aim to inform visitors about the Parliament in a way that is accessible and interesting to a wide variety of people including educational organisations and overseas visitors by stimulating curiosity. The displays offer a range of information for the casual visitor as well as more interested parties.

"Importantly, the Visitor Centre is open all year round and continues to be available even while Parliament is in recess.

"The other element to today’s ceremony is the Parliament shop, which stocks a range of innovative and quality gifts, souvenirs and publications for visitors as a memento of their visit to the Parliament. Many of the items stocked are exclusive to the Parliament shop and are made in Scotland. These highlight the best in Scottish design and crafts.

"It is clear from all of this that the Public Information Service has a vital role to play in developing the accessible culture within the Parliament through its information provision, visits programme, Visitor Centre and Shop."

The Visitor Centre displays include a detailed Guide to the Parliament plus a view to the future with a room dedicated to the Holyrood Project. There is a historical insight into aspects of the past achievements, both of Scottish Parliaments before 1707 and of the Westminster era.

The displays mix traditional interpretative methods with the use of new technology in five interactive, multi-media presentations.

There is an information desk where visitors can ask questions of Public Information staff. This supports the telephone, written and email service supplied by Public Information.

The Shop carries a range of goods including quality items such as leather goods, jewellery and engraved accessories alongside books and official Parliament publications. The range will be expanding over coming months with the addition of malt whisky, wines and crystal items.

The opening times of the Visitor Centre and Shop are as follows:

0930 - 1700 Monday to Friday; 0930 - 1700 Saturday from July 3 to September 11 inclusive (closed all other Saturdays); Closed Sundays and December 24, 1999 to January 4, 2000 inclusive. Admission is free