Health Secretary makes personal statement to Holyrood over £11K iPad bill

Michael Matheson's revealed it was the result of his kids watching football while on holiday

Author: Stephanie AllisonPublished 16th Nov 2023

Scottish Health Secretary Michael Matheson has apologised to MSPs for incurring a near-£11,000 bill racked up on his parliamentary iPad.

Giving a personal statement in Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Matheson said: "Firstly, I want to apologise to the chamber for the cost of the roaming charges.

"As I said in my public statement on Friday, I accept that the charges have come about as a result of not updating the Sim card in my iPad to the new contract provider.

"I also recognise that I should have informed parliament of my holiday plans in advance of travelling and that I will be taking two devices."

Mr Matheson claimed he had checked with parliamentary authorities while in Morocco what he should do.

READ MORE: Health secretary agrees to reimburse full cost of iPad roaming charges.

"I want to be clear with colleagues that I did not knowingly run up the roaming charges bill," he said.

"Quite the reverse.

"I checked what I should do before I used the iPad.

"My mistake - and I wholly accept this - was not to have sorted all of this out long before I went to Morocco."

The Scottish Health Secretary said he was made aware last Thursday that "other members of our family" had used the iPad while on holiday.

"It was at this point, last Thursday night, when I returned home, that I was made aware by my wife that other members of our family had made use of the iPad's data," Michael Matheson said.

"This was the first I knew that the data had been used by anyone else.

"I had previously checked this but the truth only emerged after this story was in the news. I should have pressed harder, perhaps I should have been less willing to believe what I had been told.

"Presiding Officer, I need to be very clear with you and colleagues today.

"The responsibility for the iPad is mine, the responsibility for the data usage is mine.

"That is why my wife and I made the immediate decision to reimburse parliament for the full cost."

The costs were incurred by Mr Matheson's teenage sons watching football games, he confirmed.

The Falkirk West MSP - who choked back tears as he spoke - said: "In my statement issued last Friday I made no reference to the use of data by my family.

"As a parent, I wanted to protect them from being part of the political and media scrutiny associated with this, something I believe any parent would want to do.

"I am a father first and foremost - that was a mistake and I am sorry.

"I can see now that it just isn't possible to explain the data usage without explaining their role.

READ MORE: Holyrood bosses urged to investigate minister's £11,000 iPad charges.

"Presiding Officer, the simple truth is they watched football matches."

The minister informed First Minister Humza Yousaf that family members had used the device on Tuesday, only telling him the full extent of the usage on Wednesday.

Mr Matheson said he would refer himself for investigation to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) under the code of conduct as a result of the bill.

He also admitted that "mistakes have been made - by me, by my family".

"I should have sorted the Sim card and I should have investigated what happened more thoroughly," Mr Matheson said.

"I accept that, take full responsibility and apologise unreservedly.

"That is why the costs have now been fully reimbursed to parliament.

"And it is why I have today asked to refer myself to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body under Section 7 of the MSP Code of Conduct so that they can consider whether to investigate the matter further to address any remaining questions to this parliament's satisfaction."

Under questioning, the Scottish Health Secretary said the iPad itself had not been used by his children, but rather been used as a hotspot to allow internet access for other devices.

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