As we end our live coverage of Neil Gray's statement on ministerial car use, here's a reminder of the key points he made:

• The health secretary apologised for 'his error' in not seeing teams other than Aberdeen and giving the appearance of acting more like a fan than a minister
• Gray told the chamber family and friends accompanied him in government cars to the games
• Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton accused the minister of having a 'jolly' and called on him to reimburse the tax payers
• The health secretary insisted taking ministerial cars was a legitimate use of resources
• Labour MSP Neil Bibby asks if the correct protocols had been followed
• Gray explained details of the events in question were proactively released

That's all from us today. The editor was Paul Hastie and the writers were Craig Hutchison and Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce. Thank you for joining us.

Statement has not drawn line under the issuepublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 14 November 2024

15:20 GMT 14 November 2024

David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent

The idea behind these kind of statements is that they draw a line under things. The aim is to get everything out, take the criticism, and move on.

I’m not convinced that’s happened here.

There will be further questions about whether it was right for Neil Gray to take friends and family members in his ministerial car to these events.

The Health Secretary didn’t really explain why it was only Aberdeen and Scotland games he’d attended (the two teams he supports).

And the Conservatives are now pushing for an investigation under the ministerial code.

Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr says no one is calling on ministers not to attend events as Gray has but this situation is "a mess of Neil Gray's making".

Kerr says the Scottish Ministerial Code dictates ministers must be prepared to defend their travel arrangements in public and the problem is these arrangements are not sustainable.

He asks Gray whether, if a member of the public were to submit a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, would there be contemporaneous notes of the meetings he took at the football events.

Neil Gray says it is "entirely appropriate" for ministers to use ministerial resources to attend ministerial events. He says resources will only be sanctioned by civil servants when that is demonstrable.

He adds: "What I have reflected upon and what I apologise for is the appearance that I have been acting more as a fan, not getting the balance right, by attending Aberdeen games and attending others."

Gray once again reiterates there will be summaries available for events that have taken place.

Liam McArthur is next and he says Gray's apology recognises "this does not look good".

The Lib Dem MSP asks if the minister believes there is an actual need for more detailed guidance about ministerial attendance at events.

The cabinet secretary replies he will reflect on the events he attends, but will not stop attending sport events.

The first minister is reflecting on the ministerial code, Gray adds.

Patrick Harvie points out that if Gray had attended all of these matches and travelled by bus he would not have the slightest problem with it.

The Scottish Greens co-leader asks: "Isn't the real issue here that a great many ministers do treat chauffeur-driven cars as the default expectation."

He calls for a review of the government's car service.

Gray agrees that ministerial cars must be used for appropriate business.

The health secretary says the well-established need for the use of government cars is there.

Paul Sweeney says the cabinet secretary was clearly not prepared to join the long queues of fans at Mount Florida train station after football fixtures, thanks to "totally inadequate" train service.

He asks which steps the Scottish Government will take to improve train services for the benefit of those without a chauffer driven car.

Neil Gray says he is very well aware of queues at Mount Florida which he has experienced and is happy to discuss improving transport following events at Hampden with Sweeney.

Craig Hoy says Neil Gray cheered on Aberdeen "from the comfort of VIP seats" and expected the Scottish tax payer to pay for his transport.

He adds: "As he climbed into his ministerial limousine, showing off to his friends and family, didn't Neil Gray realise for one minute he was abusing his position and taking the tax payer for a ride?"

Hoy asks the health secretary to agree to pay the money back and challenges First Minister John Swinney, seated in the chamber next to Gray, to order a full investigation into the "scandal".

Neil Gray says it is not unusual for ministers to attend events and be accompanied by guests.

He says it is also within the ministerial code that family members can accompany ministers in official transport.

Tories accuse minister of a 'jolly' to watch his football teampublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 14 November 2024

14:54 GMT 14 November 2024

David Wallace Lockhart
Political correspondent

Neil Gray has obviously decided to get everything out in his statement – including the fact that family and friends have accompanied him in government cars to football games.

He told MSPs that this is allowed under the rules.

The Conservatives say this confirms these matches were just a “jolly” to watch the football, rather than ministerial business.

This may well be within the rules, but it’s probably another uncomfortable aspect of this whole saga for the Health Secretary.

Neil Gray says he’ll “reflect” upon whether it’s proportionate for family and friends to get lifts in ministerial cars to events such as football games.

That sounds like him saying he won’t be doing this again.

Scottish Labour MSP Neil Bibby says ministers and shadow ministers have always attended sporting events to support national teams and meet governing bodies and the attendance of ministers, where appropriate, should be supported.

He adds: "That is not in question, the key question is whether the correct protocols and rules were followed."

Bibby acknowledges the health secretary's apology and asks if he can clarify whether all of the events he attended were by official invitation, a publication of who the minister met and which topics were discussed and whether a civil servant was in attendance.

Neil Gray says details of the events in question were proactively released, including a summary of which officials attended with a note of topics discussed.

Neil Gray hits back: "No these were legitimate use of ministerial resources."

The health secretary points out the ministerial code says family members can attend events.

He reiterates his apology for giving the impression of acting more as a fan than a minister.

Rachael Hamilton says Neil Gray used government limos to watch his favourite football team.

"These trips were all billed to the taxpayer," adds the Tory MSP.

She points out he wasn't even sports minister when he went to some of these games.

"This is pathetic.

"These excuses are an embarrassment. He's treating the public as fools."

She calls for a ministerial code investigation as it looks like Neil Gray has used tax payers money for his own benefit, for a "jolly".

"When it comes to domestic football I should have ensured I went to see teams other than Aberdeen," Neil Gray tells the chamber.

"I should not have allowed that situation to develop.

He adds: "I should have made sure that I attended a wider range of games, not just Aberdeen, and I apologise for my error."

"The role of ministers in attending events is clearly long established," says Gray.

The health secretary explains that ministers across the UK attend sporting events, saying "attendance at such events is legitimate".

Gray says: "It is a matter of regret to me presiding officer, by attending four Aberdeen games that I have given the impression of acting more as a fan and less as a minister."

Image source, Scottish Parliament TV

Neil Gray begins by saying he's making this statement due to requests from other parties.

The health secretary points out there is proactive publication of ministerial engagements.

"This is in line with the ministerial code," he tells the chamber.

The minister explains attending sporting events shows his support to the governing bodies of sport.

Health Secretary Neil Gray will now make a statement at the Scottish Parliament to address his use of ministerial cars to travel to football games.

You can click on the Watch Live icon at the top of the page to follow his statement.

Image source, PA Media

Gray was given VIP seats at Hampden - as a guest of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) - three times, once in his current role and two when he was wellbeing economy, fair work and energy secretary.

The Airdrie and Shotts MSP watched Aberdeen v Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup semi-final in November, and the final against Rangers in December, as well as the semi-final of the Scottish Cup against Celtic in April.

The minister, originally from Orkney, was also driven to an Aberdeen home league match against Livingston in May during a day of ministerial visits in the city.

The first two matches were logged on the Scottish government's ministerial engagements, travel and gifts register as meetings with the SFA about the “social impact” of investment in sport.

The latter two were registered under the subject "sport".

Read more here.

The Scottish government says Neil Gray's publicly-funded car trips were "in accordance" with their policies, which represented value for money to the public.

A spokesperson said that sport was part of Gray's remit as health secretary, and he regularly attends sporting events "to support workers and players".

Ministers are entitled to publicly-funded transport as part of their job.

But the policy states it “cannot be provided from public funds for journeys where the principal purpose is not connected to the performance of ministerial duties”.

Image source, PA Media

Now if you're just joining us, Health Secretary Neil Gray will shortly make a statement at the Scottish Parliament to address his use of a ministerial car to travel to football games.

The Aberdeen fan was driven by a chauffeur to watch his team play at Hampden three times in six months.

All the visits were classed as official ministerial engagements where the use of chauffeur-driven cars would have been approved by civil servants.

However, he has been criticised by opposition parties who have claimed the trips were "excessive" and "hypocritical" after the SNP criticised Labour politicians for attending similar events.

Scottish Tory leader Russell FIndlay used FMQs to call for the health secretary to reimburse taxpayers

You can watch the statement by tapping on the Watch Live from 14:25 and we'll bring you reports and analysis throughout.

Image source, PA

That brings our live coverage of FMQs to a close, but we will return shortly for Health Secretary Neil Gray's ministerial statement on his government car use.

It's expected at 14:25 and you will be able to watch it by clicking on the Watch Live icon at the top of this page.

Until then, the editor for FMQs was Paul McLaren. The writers were Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce and Craig Hutchison.

We'll be back from around 14:00.

If you're just joining us, here's a recap of today's First Minister's Questions:

• Ahead of the session, Health Secretary Neil Gray announced a delay in the Scottish government's plans for a National Care Service.
• Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay kicked off questions to the first minister by grilling Swinney on Neil Gray's use of ministerial cars, saying the SNP are "taking tax payers for a ride".
• The first minister defended Gray, who has attended 347 engagements since February, only five of which were sporting events, and insisted Gray was "focused on the job".
• Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar challenged Swinney on the National Care Service, accusing the government of "incompetence" and waste.
• Swinney said not only have disabled people, carers and service users supported and urged the government to take plans forward but the Labour party's 2024 manifesto outlined their support for a National Care Service.
• The first minister continued to face questions on the service from Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, who accused the SNP of "wasting £30m in four years".
• Swinney was questioned on the operational issues facing smart meter installation in Scotland, reported by BBC Panorama.
• The first minister said the reported figures on private consultants was inaccurate, with the government spending just over £8.5m in 22/23, not £42m.
• And former minister Michael Matheson, following criticism earlier in the session from opposition parties, got to his feet to discuss Grangemouth and this afternoon's signing of the Falkirk Growth Deal.