27.10.2011
Technical problems with the voting system in the Debating Chamber meant parliamentary business could not be concluded on Thursday evening.
The system allows MSPs to vote and to be heard over the PA system, and also links to broadcast and webcasting systems.
A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “The Presiding Officer is extremely unhappy that the failure of the sound and voting system meant that business could not be concluded this evening and took the decision to postpone the vote until next week.
"The Parliament’s broadcast engineers are currently working on the system. The company that installed the equipment will be on site tomorrow and the Presiding Officer has called for an early update.
“Our business continuity approach is always to ensure that parliamentary business is maintained.”
Background
- The hardware is made by a Danish company called Danish Interpretation Systems.
- The installation and maintenance contract is with a Fife-based company called AV Department.
- The total cost of the system was £270k – this covers the cost of hardware, software, installation, training and internal resources.
- The system is not just voting consoles – the system supports MSPs speaking in debates and voting. It also links to the PA system so the public and Members can hear. It also links to our broadcast and webcasting systems.
- The system has to be able to import and export files to the parliament’s IT network linking to the Official Report so that votes can be recorded.