The parliament will be open to the public from September

About 780,000 visitors are expected to tour the controversial �431m building in its first year.

They will be able to explore at their leisure for free, but guided tours covering architecture, art and devolution will cost �3.50.

SSP leader Tommy Sheridan said the move was like making the public pay for the building twice.

During the last First Minister's Questions at the Assembly Hall on The Mound, Mr Sheridan challenged Jack McConnell on the issue.

The parliament is procuring an expert guided tour service. These charges have been set on a break even, non-profit basis Scottish Parliament spokeswoman

He said: "Would you agree that, given the �430m of public money spent in building the politicians' palace at Holyrood, that it would be completely unacceptable and socially exclusive to charge individuals for tours of the Scottish Parliament?"

Mr McConnell said the matter was out of his hands.

He answered: "I think the policy in relation to the operational use of the new building is a matter which the presiding officer very rightly, but very carefully, has protected for the corporate body and I don't intend to interfere with that or to express too many opinions on their decisions."

A Scottish Parliament spokeswoman confirmed that there would be no free guided tours.

Westminster cost

She said: "The parliament is procuring an expert guided tour service. These charges have been set on a break even, non-profit basis.

"Visitors can take a self-guided tour, at no charge, using a free available map of the parliament."

The tours, which will start from 11 October, will take in the floor of the chamber, committee rooms, the MSP block and Queensberry House.

The guides will take groups of up to 25 people and talk about the design of the building, artworks, devolution, elections and how the parliament works.