3. Who are we?
Over 50 people, recruited as
specialists:
Half are research subject
experts
Half are information specialists
…and office management
4. What does SPICe do?
Facts, analysis, briefings
Research
Impartial expertise
News and current affairs
5. Information strategy
Need well-informed citizens to
contribute to the democratic
process
Need well-informed MSPs to
help govern Scotland
6. Who for?
MSPs and their staff
Parliament committees
Parliament staff
The public - indirectly
7. SPICe services
We provide an internal service to:
The Scottish Parliament
Corporate Body
Senior management
All Parliamentary offices
8. How?
Confidential enquiry service for
MSPs
Longer briefings – on bills, hot
topics
Work for committees
On-line services
Making parliament information
available to the public (website,
partner libraries)
12. Access to the e-environment
Some of the challenges we face:
Complex inquiries
…with short deadlines
Keeping publications up-to-date
…and information current
Technology
Training and inductions for staff
Awareness of services and products