Holyrood's expenses system will be the subject of an independent examination, parliament chiefs have confirmed.
A full review of the system was completed in 2008, so wholesale changes are not expected to be brought about by this latest examination - to be carried out by former council chief executive Sir Neil McIntosh.
The move comes in the wake of the expenses scandal which has engulfed Westminster.
The review will take into account the findings of Sir Christopher Kelly's Committee on Standards in Public Life - which is carrying out a review of MPs' pay and expenses.
Sir Neil has been asked to also consider whether the key elements of the Holyrood system can be expected to continue to command public confidence.
Holyrood Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson said the primary objective is for the Scottish Parliament to "build, where appropriate, on our current system rather than in any sense start again".
Mr Fergusson went on: "The Scottish Parliament has been held up in many respects as a benchmark of good practice.
"The corporate body, with strong support from all the main party leaders in the Parliament, wants to ensure it continues to be seen in that light and that any opportunities for further improvements are embraced.
"I am extremely grateful that Sir Neil has agreed to take on this role. His credentials as a man of independent mind make him ideally suited to the task and we welcome his involvement."
Sir Neil was chief executive of Strathclyde Regional Council from 1992 to 1998 and before that led Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council - a role which saw him co-ordinate the authority's response to the Lockerbie bombing.
He has served as an electoral commissioner, was chief counting officer for the Scottish Parliament referendum in 1997 and was awarded a knighthood in 2000.
His examination of the Holyrood expenses system will begin in July, and is due to make his recommendations before the end of the year.
