last christmas, scotland's health secretary michael matheson went on a week—long holiday to morocco. he brought along his ipad, which was issued by parliament, and while he was there he racked up a data roaming bill of almost £11,000. this is a breakdown of his ee usage, which was released by parliament, and it shows that he used more than six gigabytes of data while on that trip. he assured staff that the ipad was being used for parliamentary business, and of that business the parliament said that they would cover the bill, but that £3,000 should come out of the expenses budget from mr matheson�*s office. it then transpired that the sim card in the ipad should have been updated a year earlier, and that mr matheson had been made aware of that information by e—mail. so, on that basis, he has since agreed to pay the bill in full, but there are still questions about how exactly he managed to use such a huge amount of data. the opposition scottish conservatives have pointed out that on the same day, january 2nd, that he racked up a bill of almost £7,000, there was a football match going on between rangers and celtic. the scottish first minister humza yousaf has said that he has complete confidence in his health secretary, but the opposition likely won't stop asking questions until they are satisfied with mr matheson�*s answers. during first minister's questions earlier today first minister humza yousaf was grilled on matheson�*s ipad usage. this is what he had to say. it is clear that there is more that has been discovered in relation to the ipad and the expense. michael matheson will make that clear in a statement later on this afternoon. of course, i do have absolute of course, i do have absolute confidence in michael matheson as a cabinet secretary for health. in the same session opposition leader — the scottish conservatives douglas ross — challenged the first minister on the issue. it was not upon discovering something, he claimed this. he claimed £11,000 from the taxpayer. and oh i have asked from humza yousaf is, does he still agree, as he did last week, this was a legitimate expense? yes or no? does he agree that that £11,000, that costs run up purely on pulmonary business? yes or no? i have tried that three times and three times i have not had an answer and the fact is, the first minister should have immediately lodged an investigation into this matter. he should have demanded that michael matheson had with the device to be examined. instead, he is the last person in scotland still believing his health secretary's ridiculous claim. now, if the story changes to be about family or personal usage, that still will not cut it because it will nearly be a year after the claim and a week into this scandal. the evidence shows that michael matheson claimed £11,000 of taxpayer money when he knew it was not for parliamentary work. it was notjust a mistake, it was dishonest. so we'll humza yousaf do the right thing and sack michael matheson or wait for his resignation? live now to our political correspondent david wallace lockhart, who is in holyrood. we arejust we are just watching what will happen before michael matheson speaks up so we will have to interrupt you but while we wait for him to stand up, take us through the background to this. this him to stand up, take us through the background to this.— background to this. this all starts with a week-long _ background to this. this all starts with a week-long holiday - background to this. this all starts with a week-long holiday in - background to this. this all starts i with a week-long holiday in morocco with a week—long holiday in morocco last christmas that michael matheson took with his family and he came back with quite an unwelcome souvenir, and £11,000 bill for data roaming on his ipad. for a long time, this went unnoticed. there was an agreement that parliament would cover a big chunk of the bill, his parliamentary expenses which cover £3000 but fundamentally, the taxpayer paying it all and it is only when the expenses came out that journalists are picked up on this after michael matheson saying it had been for parliamentary purposes, constituency work while on holiday, it then emerged that should have been a seven card changed over. he put his hands up and said, i will cover this bill personally. the pressure did not go away because opposition parties did not see how he could have racked up £11,000 doing constituency work. i am going to enter due. _ doing constituency work. i am going to enter due, that _ doing constituency work. i am going to enter due, that is _ doing constituency work. i am going to enter due, that is go _ doing constituency work. i am going to enter due, that is go straight - doing constituency work. i am going to enter due, that is go straight to l to enter due, that is go straight to the parliament and michael matheson. i want to address the significant level of interest in the data roaming charges associated with my parliamentary ipad during a family holiday in morocco between the 27th of december and the 3rd of january this year. firstly, i want to apologise to the chamber for the cost of the roaming charges. as i set out 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 it of my holiday plans in advance of travelling and that i would be taking to devices. that was my responsibility and i accept it in full. i therefore think it is important to set out to the chamber all of the facts of what happened and in particular, exactly how the charges came about. i travelled to morocco with my family, wife and two teenage boys on the 27th of december. the first day of the holiday, the 28th of december, i contacted the parliament's it department, told them that i was out of the country and that my parliamentary phone was not working but that my ipad was working. in the course of two phone calls, after initial effort to get the phone working, parliament's it department advised that they had checked with the network operator who explained that my data package was suitable for use in morocco. they also advised that i should try to remove and replace seven card from my phone as a problem, may be a fault with the sim card. nothing in those discussions lead me to believe that there was any risk in using my ipad while in morocco. i want to be clear with colleagues that i did not knowingly run up the roaming charges bill. quite the reverse. i checked what i should do before i used my ipad. my mistake and ifully what i should do before i used my ipad. my mistake and i fully accept this. ishould have ipad. my mistake and i fully accept this. i should have sorted this all out long before i went to morocco. in january out long before i went to morocco. injanuary this out long before i went to morocco. in january this year, out long before i went to morocco. injanuary this year, i was informed of the high data charges accrued to my ipad. 0f of the high data charges accrued to my ipad. of course, i cleared the charges and parliament confirmed they had contacted the provider for more information. at this time, i handed my ipad over to the parliament for it to be checked. it is important to be clear that throughout this time, i was not clear what had caused the high charges. i have not used the ipad for any parliamentary business and could not understand how the costs could not understand how the costs could be so high. parliament confirmed the network provider was unable to give further details of what led to the charges. in the absence of a clear explanation of how such a large bill could have happened, i thought it appropriate to make a contribution through office allowances of £3000 towards the cost. following the publication of my expenses last week, there was significant media coverage of the charges. it is 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 data. this was the first i knew that the data had been used by anyone else. i previously checked this but the truth only emerged after the story was in the news. i should have pressed harder, perhaps i should have been less willing to believe what i had been told. i need to be very clear with you and colleagues today. the responsibility for the ipad is mine. responsible for the data usage is mine. that is why my wife and i made the immediate decision to reimburse the parliament for the full cost. i contacted parliamentary authorities next day... i contacted parliamentary authorities next day to make clear arrangements to reimburse the full cost of the roaming charges and issue a personal statement to explain the decision. 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 my family 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. i can see now that it is just not possible to explain the data usage without explaining their role. the simple truth is, they were watching football matches. 0n simple truth is, they were watching football matches. on tuesday, i told the first minister that members of my family had made use of the ipad data and yesterday evening i provided him with a full account of the matter and of my intention to inform parliament. disclosing this information about my family has been extremely difficult. mistakes have been made by me and by my family. mystics have been made in the way in which i have handled this. i should have sorted the sim card, i should have sorted the sim card, i should have investigated what happened more thoroughly. i accept that, take responsible at a and i apologise unreservedly. that is why the costs have now been fully reimbursed to parliament. that is why i have today asked, i have referred myself to the scottish parliament corporate body so they can consider whether to investigate the matter further to address any remaining questions to this parliament's the satisfaction. i take very seriously the reputation of the scottish parliament, of which i have always striven to be a diligent member since its restoration in 1990. my wish is that i can now focus fully on the vital duties that i have as msp and as health secretary. i want members to accept my explanation, myself referral under the code of conduct, and my unreserved apology. thank ou. and my unreserved apology. thank yom given — and my unreserved apology. thank yon given the _ and my unreserved apology. thank you. given the decision _ and my unreserved apology. thank you. given the decision of - and my unreserved apology. thank you. given the decision of the - you. given the decision of the parliament to suspend rule 13.1.4, i will allow_ parliament to suspend rule 13.1.4, i will allow a — parliament to suspend rule 13.1.4, i will allow a period of around ten minules— will allow a period of around ten minutes for questions and i would be grateful— minutes for questions and i would be grateful if— minutes for questions and i would be grateful if any members who wish to put a _ grateful if any members who wish to put a question would push their buttons— put a question would push their buttons now. | put a question would push their buttons nova— buttons now. i am grateful to michael matheson _ buttons now. i am grateful to michael matheson for - buttons now. i am grateful to michael matheson for the - buttons now. i am grateful to - michael matheson for the personal statement — michael matheson for the personal statement he _ michael matheson for the personal statement he has _ michael matheson for the personal statement he has provided - michael matheson for the personal statement he has provided and - michael matheson for the personal statement he has provided and i. michael matheson for the personal. statement he has provided and i can fully see _ statement he has provided and i can fully see the — statement he has provided and i can fully see the difficulty— statement he has provided and i can fully see the difficulty it _ statement he has provided and i can fully see the difficulty it has - fully see the difficulty it has caused _ fully see the difficulty it has caused him _ fully see the difficulty it has caused him. however, - fully see the difficulty it has - caused him. however, questions remain — caused him. however, questions remain during— caused him. however, questions remain. during that _ caused him. however, questions remain. during that statement, i remain. during that statement, michael— remain. during that statement, michael matheson _ remain. during that statement, michael matheson said - remain. during that statement, michael matheson said he - remain. during that statement, | michael matheson said he could remain. during that statement, - michael matheson said he could not understand — michael matheson said he could not understand how— michael matheson said he could not understand how he _ michael matheson said he could not understand how he had _ michael matheson said he could not understand how he had racked - michael matheson said he could not understand how he had racked up . michael matheson said he could not| understand how he had racked up so much _ understand how he had racked up so much data _ understand how he had racked up so much data roaming _ understand how he had racked up so much data roaming charges. - understand how he had racked up so much data roaming charges. he - understand how he had racked up sol much data roaming charges. he went on to— much data roaming charges. he went on to say— much data roaming charges. he went on to say he — much data roaming charges. he went on to say he could _ much data roaming charges. he went on to say he could not _ much data roaming charges. he went on to say he could not explain - much data roaming charges. he went on to say he could not explain the - on to say he could not explain the data usage — on to say he could not explain the data usage but _ on to say he could not explain the data usage. but of— on to say he could not explain the data usage. but of course - on to say he could not explain the data usage. but of course he - on to say he could not explain the data usage. but of course he did i data usage. but of course he did explain — data usage. but of course he did explain the _ data usage. but of course he did explain the data _ data usage. but of course he did explain the data usage. - data usage. but of course he did explain the data usage. he - data usage. but of course he did explain the data usage. he toldl data usage. but of course he did . explain the data usage. he told this parliament— explain the data usage. he told this parliament when— explain the data usage. he told this parliament when he _ explain the data usage. he told this parliament when he claimed - explain the data usage. he told this parliament when he claimed for- parliament when he claimed for expenses. — parliament when he claimed for expenses. but— parliament when he claimed for expenses, but it _ parliament when he claimed for expenses, but it was _ parliament when he claimed for expenses, but it was a - parliament when he claimed for. expenses, but it was a legitimate expense — expenses, but it was a legitimate expense he _ expenses, but it was a legitimate expense. he promised _ expenses, but it was a legitimatel expense. he promised parliament expenses, but it was a legitimate . expense. he promised parliament it was a _ expense. he promised parliament it was a legitimate _ expense. he promised parliament it was a legitimate expense. - expense. he promised parliament it was a legitimate expense. he - expense. he promised parliament it was a legitimate expense. he gavel was a legitimate expense. he gave this parliament _ was a legitimate expense. he gave this parliament written _ was a legitimate expense. he gave this parliament written assurances| this parliament written assurances that it _ this parliament written assurances that it was — this parliament written assurances that it was a — this parliament written assurances that it was a legitimate _ this parliament written assurances that it was a legitimate expense. i this parliament written assurances| that it was a legitimate expense. if it has— that it was a legitimate expense. if it has now— that it was a legitimate expense. if it has now transpired _ that it was a legitimate expense. if it has now transpired that - that it was a legitimate expense. if it has now transpired that his - that it was a legitimate expense. if it has now transpired that his son. it has now transpired that his son was watching _ it has now transpired that his son was watching football, _ it has now transpired that his son was watching football, why - it has now transpired that his son was watching football, why did i it has now transpired that his son| was watching football, why did he claim _ was watching football, why did he claim he — was watching football, why did he claim he was— was watching football, why did he claim he was doing _ was watching football, why did he claim he was doing parliamentaryj claim he was doing parliamentary work? _ claim he was doing parliamentary work? can— claim he was doing parliamentary work? can he _ claim he was doing parliamentary work? can he say— claim he was doing parliamentary work? can he say if— claim he was doing parliamentary work? can he say if he _ claim he was doing parliamentary work? can he say if he cannot - work? can he say if he cannot understand _ work? can he say if he cannot understand at— work? can he say if he cannot understand at the _ work? can he say if he cannot understand at the time - work? can he say if he cannot understand at the time or- work? can he say if he cannot i understand at the time or could work? can he say if he cannot - understand at the time or could not explain _ understand at the time or could not explain the — understand at the time or could not explain the data _ understand at the time or could not explain the data usage, _ understand at the time or could not explain the data usage, how- understand at the time or could not explain the data usage, how he - understand at the time or could not i explain the data usage, how he could 100% _ explain the data usage, how he could 100% cited _ explain the data usage, how he could 100% cited the — explain the data usage, how he could 100% cited the parliament _ explain the data usage, how he could 100% cited the parliament when - 100% cited the parliament when claiming — 100% cited the parliament when claiming £11,000 _ 100% cited the parliament when claiming £11,000 of— 100% cited the parliament when claiming £11,000 of taxpayers . 100% cited the parliament when - claiming £11,000 of taxpayers money, that he _ claiming £11,000 of taxpayers money, that he was— claiming £11,000 of taxpayers money, that he was doing _ claiming £11,000 of taxpayers money, that he was doing parliamentary- that he was doing parliamentary work~ _ that he was doing parliamentary work the — that he was doing parliamentary work the two _ that he was doing parliamentary work. the two stories _ that he was doing parliamentary work. the two stories do - that he was doing parliamentary work. the two stories do not. that he was doing parliamentary. work. the two stories do not align. and it _ work. the two stories do not align. and it does — work. the two stories do not align. and it does seem _ work. the two stories do not align. and it does seem that _ work. the two stories do not align. and it does seem that parliament. work. the two stories do not a