This was a highly emotional statement from the health
secretary.
That may do as much for his position as any of the actual
content.
Some sympathy was clearly stirred among opposition
members. They understand Mr Matheson’s points about being a father, and wanting
to protect his children from the glare of scrutiny.
But that doesn’t mean their questions are at an end.
They spy a clear discrepancy between what Mr Matheson
just told them, about learning of the other use of the device last Thursday,
and the fact he continued to defend his position on Monday.
Ultimately though the row could drift over time - the
referral to the Holyrood authorities will drag out for months, as would any
other standards investigations.
The Tories have threatened a confidence vote, but the
government has the numbers to swat that away.
Mr Matheson will be hoping that his emotional statement
will prove enough to save his career.
In summary: Michael Matheson says sons used iPad data to watch football
If you're just joining us, here's a summary of what has gone on during an extraordinary day at Holyrood.
Health Secretary Michael Matheson has admitted his sons watching football using his parliamentary iPad was the cause of an £11,000 data roaming charge.
The bill was incurred during a family holiday to Morocco last Christmas.
The expense was initially picked up by the Scottish Parliament, which had been told by Matheson that the iPad was only used for work.
He has since paid the money back and said he had referred himself to the parliament for further investigation.
Will there be an opportunity for further questioning, asks Ross
Douglas Ross attempts to raise a point of order to ask about the opportunity for further questioning of Michael Matheson.
The Scottish Tory leader asks if Holyrood's Corporate Body will look into the conflicting statements Matheson has given.
Ross asks when the first minister became aware of the use of the iPad for personal reasons.
The presiding officer says this is not a point of order, and the session is brought to an end.
Matheson maintains he did not know who used the data until Thursday
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Michael Matheson tells Jackie Baillie he accepts the data usage and the costs were his responsibility which is why last Thursday he and his family made the decision to reimburse the entire costs.
He reiterates that he only used the iPad for parliamentary business.
The health secretary says: "Had I known that my family had made use of the data at that time I would have met the costs associated with that.
"But I did not know that."
When it became apparent the costs had accrued due to his family he made the immediate decision to reimburse the entire amount to the parliament, he says.
'What people will not understand is the cover-up' - Baillie
Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie says anyone who has teenage children will understand what has happened, "but what people will not understand is the cover-up".
Baillie says Matheson's failure to replace the Sim card was "wholly negligent" and she regrets he made statements that were "wholly incorrect".
She says people will have lost confidence in his ability to carry out his job as health secretary.
"Why is it only now he asks his family what had happened?"
'This has been a very challenging time for my family'
Michael Matheson tells the chamber: "This has been a very challenging and emotional time for my family."
He says he chose not to provide details on Friday as they would "implicate my children".
The health secretary insists he was trying to protect his family from media scrutiny.
Questions remain, says Ross
Douglas Ross says he can fully see the difficulty making this personal statement has caused Matheson.
But the Scottish Tory leader says: "Questions remain."
He says Matheson told the parliament that when he claimed for expenses it was for legitimate parliamentary work.
Ross asks why, now that it has now transpired that his son was watching football, did he initially claim it was Holyrood business.
He asks if Matheson agrees parliament was misled.
Matheson refers himself to conduct body
BBCCopyright: BBC
Matheson says he will refer himself for investigation to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) under the code of conduct as a result of the iPad bill.
He also admits 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," the health secretary says.
"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 Matheson says the iPad itself had not been used by his children, but rather had been used as a hotspot to allow internet access for other devices.
'As a parent, I wanted to protect my children'
The costs were incurred by 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.
"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.
'The responsibility for the iPad is mine'
The Scottish health secretary says 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," he tells MSPs
Mr Matheson says: "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."
'I did not knowingly run up the roaming charges bill'
Mr Matheson claimed he had checked with parliamentary authorities while in Morocco what he should do.
"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."
Matheson says his sons were watching football on his iPad
Health Secretary Michael Matheson has said his sons watching football matches on his parliamentary iPad was the cause of an £11,000 data roaming charge.
The bill was initially covered from the public purse because Mr Matheson had assured officials that he had only used the device for work.
The minister has since paid the money back, and told MSPs that he was not aware that other family members had used the device until last week.
Mr Matheson, who was visibly emotional during a Holyrood statement, has referred himself to the parliament for further investigation.
BreakingMatheson apologises for £11,000 iPad bill
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, 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."
Matheson set to give statement on iPad bill
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
With First Minister's Questions out of the way, the focus now turns to Michael Matheson's statement to parliament.
The health secretary has asked permission to update MSPs on his position after he agreed to pay an £11,000 data roaming bill which he racked up on his iPad during a holiday to Morocco last year.
He is due to speak at 14:00 and we will bring you live coverage here.
As he left the chamber after FMQs, Humza Yousaf told
reporters that Michael Matheson would still be health secretary at the end of
the day.
The Falkirk East MSP was grim-faced throughout the session,
but will know worse is to come when he makes his own statement at two o’clock.
He will know he has the full backing of his boss, but this
still has all the hallmarks of a deeply uncomfortable afternoon for Mr
Matheson.
Opposition parties smell a scalp, and given the statements
he made on the record last week it’s going to be difficult for the health
secretary to find an explanation to satisfy them.
FMQs: The headlines
If you are just joining us, FMQs was dominated by the ongoing saga of Health Secretary Michael Matheson's iPad usage. Here are the headlines:
Douglas Ross asked the FM repeatedly if he believes Matheson ran up the bill on parliamentary business
The Scottish Tory leader called on Humza Yousaf to sack Matheson
The FM insisted "honest mistakes do happen" and argued he could not pre-empt the health secretary's personal statement
Yousaf also defended Matheson's work as health secretary and said he had "absolute confidence" in him
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for the chief executive of the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board to be sacked after it was named as a suspect in a corporate homicide action
The FM replied no individuals have been named as suspects in the probe following the deaths of four patients.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton raised the issue of RAAC used in fire stations' ceilings in Scotland
Yousaf said the Scottish government followed the guidance of structural engineers with regard to the potentially dangerous concrete
Companies should not profit in Scotland from illegal settlements - Yousaf
Green MSP Ross Greer asks the first minister to confirm that
any company "complicit in the illegal occupation of
Palestine or Ukraine" will be banned from getting public sector contracts or grants
in Scotland.
Yousaf says his understanding is that the Scottish government
is constrained as to what it can do within the devolved settlement but will
examine the situation further.
“Anybody who is profiteering from illegal settlements
anywhere should not be able to profit from public contracts here,” he says.
He urges the international community to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.
Background: Social care service vote pushed back again
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
The government's National Care Service (Scotland) Bill has been criticised for its lack of detail.
Local authorities and trade unions are among those raising concerns.
Under proposed changes, adult social care - and potentially other areas including drug and alcohol services and children's services - would be taken out of the hands of local authorities and given to newly-formed, regional care boards which would ultimately be responsible to ministers.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks what immediate
action the Scottish government is taking to address the reported crisis in
social care.
Her question comes in light of a letter from the Coalition of Care and Support
Providers in Scotland stating that the social care pay uplift is insufficient.
The first minister says he places a “huge
value on our social care workforce” and he highlights the £12-per-hour minimum pay rate
coming in from April 2024.
Baillie says vacancies in social care are up
and she calls for more cash to be invested "to properly value our hard-working social care
staff".
The first minister insists: “We do value our
hard working social care staff.”
He points out the Scottish government is constrained
by its budget and says if Labour want the government to spend £1.2bn then Jackie Baillie should say where the money should come from.
Live Reporting
Edited by Paul McLaren
All times stated are UK
Analysis
- Read more here
- Health secretary racked up £7k data fee in one day
- Minister faces confidence vote over £11k iPad bill
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images Analysis
-
Matheson will make a personal statement over an £11,000 data roaming bill at 14:00 and we'll bring you live coverage, reports and analysis this afternoon
-
Douglas Ross asked the FM repeatedly if he believes Matheson ran up the bill on parliamentary business
-
The Scottish Tory leader called on Humza Yousaf to sack Matheson
-
The FM insisted "honest mistakes do happen" and argued he could not pre-empt the health secretary's personal statement
-
Yousaf also defended Matheson's work as health secretary and said he had "absolute confidence" in him
-
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for the chief executive of the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board to be sacked after it was named as a suspect in a corporate homicide action
-
The FM replied no individuals have been named as suspects in the probe following the deaths of four patients.
-
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton raised the issue of RAAC used in fire stations' ceilings in Scotland
-
Yousaf said the Scottish government followed the guidance of structural engineers with regard to the potentially dangerous concrete
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images - Read more here
- New national care service law to be delayed
- MSPs raise concerns over cost of new care service
- National Care Service costs understated - watchdog
Latest PostA remarkable day at Holyrood
That's all from our live coverage of the Scottish Parliament today. Thank you for joining us for what was a remarkable session at Holyrood.
The editor was Paul McLaren, and Craig Hutchison and Catherine Lyst were the writers.
'Highly emotional statement from the health secretary'
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
This was a highly emotional statement from the health secretary.
That may do as much for his position as any of the actual content.
Some sympathy was clearly stirred among opposition members. They understand Mr Matheson’s points about being a father, and wanting to protect his children from the glare of scrutiny.
But that doesn’t mean their questions are at an end.
They spy a clear discrepancy between what Mr Matheson just told them, about learning of the other use of the device last Thursday, and the fact he continued to defend his position on Monday.
Ultimately though the row could drift over time - the referral to the Holyrood authorities will drag out for months, as would any other standards investigations.
The Tories have threatened a confidence vote, but the government has the numbers to swat that away.
Mr Matheson will be hoping that his emotional statement will prove enough to save his career.
In summary: Michael Matheson says sons used iPad data to watch football
If you're just joining us, here's a summary of what has gone on during an extraordinary day at Holyrood.
Health Secretary Michael Matheson has admitted his sons watching football using his parliamentary iPad was the cause of an £11,000 data roaming charge.
The bill was incurred during a family holiday to Morocco last Christmas.
The expense was initially picked up by the Scottish Parliament, which had been told by Matheson that the iPad was only used for work.
He has since paid the money back and said he had referred himself to the parliament for further investigation.
Will there be an opportunity for further questioning, asks Ross
Douglas Ross attempts to raise a point of order to ask about the opportunity for further questioning of Michael Matheson.
The Scottish Tory leader asks if Holyrood's Corporate Body will look into the conflicting statements Matheson has given.
Ross asks when the first minister became aware of the use of the iPad for personal reasons.
The presiding officer says this is not a point of order, and the session is brought to an end.
Matheson maintains he did not know who used the data until Thursday
Michael Matheson tells Jackie Baillie he accepts the data usage and the costs were his responsibility which is why last Thursday he and his family made the decision to reimburse the entire costs.
He reiterates that he only used the iPad for parliamentary business.
The health secretary says: "Had I known that my family had made use of the data at that time I would have met the costs associated with that.
"But I did not know that."
When it became apparent the costs had accrued due to his family he made the immediate decision to reimburse the entire amount to the parliament, he says.
'What people will not understand is the cover-up' - Baillie
Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie says anyone who has teenage children will understand what has happened, "but what people will not understand is the cover-up".
Baillie says Matheson's failure to replace the Sim card was "wholly negligent" and she regrets he made statements that were "wholly incorrect".
She says people will have lost confidence in his ability to carry out his job as health secretary.
"Why is it only now he asks his family what had happened?"
'This has been a very challenging time for my family'
Michael Matheson tells the chamber: "This has been a very challenging and emotional time for my family."
He says he chose not to provide details on Friday as they would "implicate my children".
The health secretary insists he was trying to protect his family from media scrutiny.
Questions remain, says Ross
Douglas Ross says he can fully see the difficulty making this personal statement has caused Matheson.
But the Scottish Tory leader says: "Questions remain."
He says Matheson told the parliament that when he claimed for expenses it was for legitimate parliamentary work.
Ross asks why, now that it has now transpired that his son was watching football, did he initially claim it was Holyrood business.
He asks if Matheson agrees parliament was misled.
Matheson refers himself to conduct body
Matheson says he will refer himself for investigation to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) under the code of conduct as a result of the iPad bill.
He also admits 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," the health secretary says. "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 Matheson says the iPad itself had not been used by his children, but rather had been used as a hotspot to allow internet access for other devices.
'As a parent, I wanted to protect my children'
The costs were incurred by 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.
"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.
'The responsibility for the iPad is mine'
The Scottish health secretary says 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," he tells MSPs
Mr Matheson says: "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."
'I did not knowingly run up the roaming charges bill'
Mr Matheson claimed he had checked with parliamentary authorities while in Morocco what he should do.
"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."
Matheson says his sons were watching football on his iPad
Health Secretary Michael Matheson has said his sons watching football matches on his parliamentary iPad was the cause of an £11,000 data roaming charge.
The bill was initially covered from the public purse because Mr Matheson had assured officials that he had only used the device for work.
The minister has since paid the money back, and told MSPs that he was not aware that other family members had used the device until last week.
Mr Matheson, who was visibly emotional during a Holyrood statement, has referred himself to the parliament for further investigation.
BreakingMatheson apologises for £11,000 iPad bill
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, 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."
Matheson set to give statement on iPad bill
With First Minister's Questions out of the way, the focus now turns to Michael Matheson's statement to parliament.
The health secretary has asked permission to update MSPs on his position after he agreed to pay an £11,000 data roaming bill which he racked up on his iPad during a holiday to Morocco last year.
He is due to speak at 14:00 and we will bring you live coverage here.
'Opposition parties smell a scalp'
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondent
As he left the chamber after FMQs, Humza Yousaf told reporters that Michael Matheson would still be health secretary at the end of the day.
The Falkirk East MSP was grim-faced throughout the session, but will know worse is to come when he makes his own statement at two o’clock.
He will know he has the full backing of his boss, but this still has all the hallmarks of a deeply uncomfortable afternoon for Mr Matheson.
Opposition parties smell a scalp, and given the statements he made on the record last week it’s going to be difficult for the health secretary to find an explanation to satisfy them.
FMQs: The headlines
If you are just joining us, FMQs was dominated by the ongoing saga of Health Secretary Michael Matheson's iPad usage. Here are the headlines:
Companies should not profit in Scotland from illegal settlements - Yousaf
Green MSP Ross Greer asks the first minister to confirm that any company "complicit in the illegal occupation of Palestine or Ukraine" will be banned from getting public sector contracts or grants in Scotland.
Yousaf says his understanding is that the Scottish government is constrained as to what it can do within the devolved settlement but will examine the situation further.
“Anybody who is profiteering from illegal settlements anywhere should not be able to profit from public contracts here,” he says.
He urges the international community to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.
Background: Social care service vote pushed back again
The government's National Care Service (Scotland) Bill has been criticised for its lack of detail.
Local authorities and trade unions are among those raising concerns.
Under proposed changes, adult social care - and potentially other areas including drug and alcohol services and children's services - would be taken out of the hands of local authorities and given to newly-formed, regional care boards which would ultimately be responsible to ministers.
'We do value our hard-working social care staff'
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asks what immediate action the Scottish government is taking to address the reported crisis in social care.
Her question comes in light of a letter from the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland stating that the social care pay uplift is insufficient.
The first minister says he places a “huge value on our social care workforce” and he highlights the £12-per-hour minimum pay rate coming in from April 2024.
Baillie says vacancies in social care are up and she calls for more cash to be invested "to properly value our hard-working social care staff".
The first minister insists: “We do value our hard working social care staff.”
He points out the Scottish government is constrained by its budget and says if Labour want the government to spend £1.2bn then Jackie Baillie should say where the money should come from.