By Steve Bargeton, political editor

ACCESS TO the Scottish Parliament will be severely restricted over a two-week period spanning the G8 summit.

The Holyrood building is to be cordoned off with a steel fence and will be closed completely on Saturday July 2—the day of a Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh—and the following day, when an anti-war demonstration is planned.

Between June 29 and July 9 there will be no guided tours of Parliament. The public will be able to able to watch parliamentary proceedings, but only if they have a pre-booked ticket. MSPs break for the two-month summer recess at the end of business on Thursday July 30.

Constituents will only be able to see their MSPs for urgent consultations at Holyrood if other arrangements—such as meeting them in their constituencies—are not possible.

“As the Presiding Officer has indicated, these measures have been carefully planned, based on police intelligence of the potential risk to the Parliament, those working here and its visitors, and are subject to change up to the last minute depending on events,” said Parliament chief executive Paul Grice.

Mr Grice said the Scottish Parliament corporate body was committed to ensuring the business of Parliament continued, and the health and safety of those working at Holyrood. “We are also supportive of the democratic right of the people of Scotland to participate and have access to their MSPs and to stage peaceful protests,” he said. The corporate body hoped it had achieved the “right balance.”