Sit in on a committee meeting and watch it taking place
Committee meetings usually take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the morning, when parliament is sitting.
These are smaller meetings of around 5 to 15 MSPs. They are usually open to the public but can sometimes be taken in private.
Find out which committees are meeting
If the committee is meeting in public, you can request a ticket. You can come and go at any time during the meeting. You can book a maximum of 5 tickets up to 1 week in advance.
More Information
Plan your visit
For opening times, parking information and more, go to our plan your visit page.
Don't forget to stop at our shop and café during your visit!
Accessibility
- Hearing loops are installed in the committee rooms. This connects to hearing aids which have a 'T-Switch'
- Wheelchairs are available and committee rooms are accessible for wheelchair users, with spaces reserved for wheelchair users in the public seating area in each committee room
- If you need a British Sign Language interpreter or other support, please contact us with as much notice as possible
Visitor behaviour policy
Please remember that this is a working parliamentary building and, as such, you are expected to behave as set out in this policy. We reserve the right to remove visitors who breach this policy and apply a period of exclusion from our public galleries and parliamentary business.
For all visits, please:
- follow all instructions from parliament staff, including any requests to bring ID with you
- do not leave your bags and personal belongings unattended
- do not smoke in the building
- do not eat or drink, except in the restaurants
- if given one, wear your visitor lanyard and pass at all times. Return it when asked or when leaving
- collect any items retained by security as you leave
- note that protests are not allowed inside the building. Banners, flags and political slogans are forbidden
The Parliament’s Standing Orders cover public access to parliamentary business. They allow the Presiding Officer to set reasonable conditions, and exclusions if these are not met.
For visits to see parliamentary business, please:
- enter, sit in and leave the galleries quietly and as requested by parliamentary staff
- switch all electronic devices off, and secure them as instructed by parliamentary staff
- do not cause a distraction or disruption to parliamentary business. If there is a disruption in the Chamber, the Presiding Officer can ask visitors to leave
- note that people who wilfully disrupt may face a period of exclusion from future visits
- do not applaud or shout out during meetings
- do not take photos, videos or recordings during meetings
- obtain prior permission to paint, sketch or draw
- follow the instructions of parliamentary staff on when and where to sit and to leave. For First Minister’s Questions, this includes remaining seated for the entire session. If you need to leave before the session ends, please speak to the nearest member of Parliament staff
Location
Days and times
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday, usually in the morning
Price