500 parliament staff facing 'almost certain' job losses

THE Scottish Parliament's 500 rank and file staff are facing "almost certain" job losses, it has emerged.

The threat hanging over the workers was revealed by Holyrood chief executive Paul Grice in a letter to MSPs.

It comes two months after he announced an 11.8 million cost-cutting drive to address the squeeze in public spending.

Mr Grice said: "It is almost certain that there will be a reduction in Scottish Parliament Service staff numbers.

"I have told staff that we would do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies, and this is still the case."

Mr Grice said negotiations are taking place with trade unions about the possibility of offering a voluntary redundancy scheme.

Security guards, committee clerks, researchers and event organisers directly employed by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) are involved.

Contract staff such as cleaners and caterers will not be affected.

A review into Holyrood spending is being undertaken, with a target of cutting 15 per cent from the current 78.7 million budget within three years.

Holyrood chiefs set an "indicative target" of a 15 per cent reduction in 2013-14 from this year's Budget, amounting to about 11.8 million.

Mr Grice said that the exact levels of savings required "will take some time to establish".

The SPCB will present next year's budget bid to Holyrood's finance committee in November.