Holyrood fax and printer ban plan

Published on Saturday 11 June 2011 11:36

HOLYROOD bosses aim to ban MSPs from having individual fax machines and printers in their offices under controversial moves to save money.

Instead Scottish Parliament officials want MSPs to use communal machines on the floors of the building where their parties are based.

Officials hope to save 50,000 a year from the initiative but a senior MSP said the plan was not "remotely useful" and would lead to chaotic scenes of MSPs' staff queuing up at communal machines while phone calls from constituents went unanswered.

Under the plans the parliament's 156 fax machines would also be replaced with a new online fax system.

Tory MSP Alex Johnstone said the plans were flawed. He said: "I am deeply opposed to this move and I am totally unconvinced at the estimated savings that this will bring.

"The fundamental flaw here is that civil servants fail to appreciate that the MSP block in parliament consists of 129 separate offices, each with their own staff, unlike the Scottish Government buildings for example. The potential exists, therefore, for members of staff to be queuing up at printers, while leaving telephone calls from constituents unanswered.

"I have spoken to a number of MSPs and staff about this, and have yet to meet anyone who thinks it is a remotely useful idea. This really needs to go back to the drawing board."

The Scottish Parliament is holding a consultation on the changes, which could be brought in this year. A spokesman said: "This is a consultation, we are asking members and staff for their views. The feedback we receive will determine whether or not it goes ahead."