The Presiding Officer at the Holyrood Parliament has confirmed that MSPs will now be permitted to use "electronic tablet devices" in the debating Chamber.

However Tricia Marwick MSP has also said that the use of social media sites is not "compatible" with the Chambers' requirement that MSPs conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner, and the use of such sites is not permitted.

"I am happy to confirm that Members should be allowed to use electronic tablet devices, as an alternative to paper notes for speaking in the Chamber," Marwick said in a letter issued to Richard Simpson MSP.

"As we discussed, any Members now choosing to do so should continue to conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner. I do not consider that using electronic devices for other purposes during parliamentary proceedings, particularly the use of social networking sites, is compatible with that requirement of conduct.

"I do not wish to find ourselves in the position of having to police the use of tablet devices. Instead, I expect Members to respect my views above, on what I consider to be acceptable usage."

A new protocol permitting members of the media to use Twitter in the chamber has been aproved and will be trialled until June.