MSPs are to move immediately to remote working for most of their work amid new restrictions and warnings about Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
In a letter sent to all parliamentarians, Holyrood's presiding officer said all committee business will take place online from now until January 17 to reduce the number of people inside the building.
"I promised to update you following this evening’s meeting of the Parliamentary Bureau," Alison Johnstone (below) told MSPs and all staff working in the Scottish Parliament in a letter last Thursday which has been released to the press today.
"We discussed additional preventative measures we could take at this time, to further limit the number of passholders onsite at Holyrood, in order to play our part in limiting transmission of the virus."
She went on to say that from this week committee business to January 17 would take place virtually unless for "exceptional reasons".
Johnstone said that the Parliamentary Bureau "will keep chamber business under review" and any further updates would be given adding that anyone coming on site at Holyrood should take a lateral flow test and have a clear negative result before leaving home.
READ MORE: Lateral flow tests unavailable online as Omicron cases rise
Her email stated: "Throughout the pandemic we have sought to ensure that Parliamentary Business is delivered safely and sustainably. With safety at the forefront of our planning, we have recently been operating with significantly fewer people on site at Holyrood.
"Following on from the First Minister’s update on Tuesday, setting out proportionate and preventative steps in relation to the Omicron variant, the SPCB has agreed a package of measures to further reduce the number of people working within the parliamentary campus.
"The SPCB has taken account of the current circumstances and the advice available at this stage and considers that these measures are proportionate.
"These measures, set out below, will apply from Friday 10 December. They will remain in place until we revert to our current position the week commencing 17 January 2022, consistent with the Scottish Government’s current Covid guidance.
"At that point our intention is to return to our present operating model. This will of course be subject to public health advice and any changes to regulations over the coming weeks. As always, we will keep all of our operations under review."
She said the following measures will apply from Friday December 10:
• Parliament staff who do not need to be onsite to support parliamentary business or other activities will work from home
• Members are asked to enable home working for their own staff to reduce numbers onsite at Holyrood
• In their role as employers, members are also invited to review their staffing arrangements in local offices
• Staff for whom working in the office is part of their wellbeing plan should continue to be supported do so. This also applies at Holyrood when the building is open.
The Holyrood building, normally open over holidays, will close over the Christmas recess from December 24 to January 9, while all events, such as exhibitions, tours and education visits will be rescheduled until after mid-January
A number of MSPs services will only be available online, including the research unit and the expenses office.
She told MSPs that business meetings with constituents and external guests can continue to take place on site.
READ MORE: New Covid restrictions in Scotland are now inevitable, warns Humza Yousaf
"These recommendations are consistent with reducing attendance at Holyrood and any subsequent risk of transmission through interactions in the building," she said.
"The health and safety of everyone at parliament and in local offices is our priority.
In light of these changes, members are asked to encourage their staff to discuss any wellbeing matters," she said.
"These changes, as we head into Christmas, are not what we had hoped for. I’m grateful to you all for your continued perseverance as we navigate these difficult times."
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