FMQs begins...published at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023
Humza Yousaf is poised in the hot seat and Douglas Ross gets to his feet to begin FMQs.
Summary
Michael Matheson gives a personal statement to the Scottish Parliament over his £11,000 iPad data bill
The health secretary incurred the charges, including more than £7,000 in one day, during a holiday to Morocco last year
He says other members of his family used his iPad to watch football matches
The truth only emerged after the story was in the media, according to the MSP
Close to tears, Matheson says he made no mention of the data usage last Friday as he wished to protect his family
"I am a father first and foremost," Matheson says
Earlier, Humza Yousaf faced questions from opposition party leaders during FMQs
The first minister said he had absolute confidence in Matheson as health secretary
Anas Sarwar focused on Scotland's largest health board being named as a suspect in a corporate homicide investigation into the deaths of four patients
FMQs begins...published at 12:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023
Matheson due to give statement at 14:00published at 11:58 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023
BreakingThe Presiding Officer has accepted a request from Michael Matheson MSP to make a personal statement to the Holyrood chamber.
Subject to Parliament’s agreement, the statement will take place at 14:00 today
Background: Michael Matheson racked up £7k data fee in one daypublished at 11:53 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023
Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland News
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Health Secretary Michael Matheson
The Scottish Parliament has released a breakdown of Michael Matheson's data usage on a trip where he racked up an £11,000 roaming charge on his parliamentary iPad.
The document reveals Scotland's health secretary was billed more than £7,000, external of fees in one day during a holiday to Morocco last year.
He has agreed to pay the fees back.
Mr Matheson is expected to seek to make a personal statement to Holyrood on Thursday to address the controversy.
The parliament said it had launched an urgent review into mobile devices and data roaming charges.
It came shortly after First Minister Humza Yousaf gave his "100% backing" to Mr Matheson, who is facing a vote of no confidence.
Matheson to give 'hotly-anticipated statement'published at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023
Philip Sim
BBC Scotland political correspondentIt’s possible to predict fairly precisely how today’s session could play out.
Douglas Ross will ask how Michael Matheson managed to run up six gigabytes of data charges in Morocco, solely on constituency business, during the new year holidays.
Humza Yousaf will reply that the health secretary can explain himself in a personal statement later in the afternoon.
Mr Ross will press the first minister on why he offered his full backing to Mr Matheson, attempting to tie him to the row; the first minister will repeat that the health secretary can explain for himself.
Members will not be able to question Mr Matheson following his hotly-anticipated statement, so opposition leaders will want to get their thoughts on the record (and the television) at some point.
And they’ll want to broaden the issue out into a wider question of how trustworthy the government is, probably featuring the separate row about WhatsApp messages and the Covid Inquiry.
Or maybe I’ll be completely wrong and they’ll ask about the justice system. Who knows?
What have been the big political issues this week?published at 11:38 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023
Image source, Yui Mok/PA WireImage caption, The row over the Scottish government's Covid WhatsApp messages has been raised repeatedly at FMQs
It's been an extremely busy week in Scottish politics.
Last night, MSPs rejected a Tory call to refer Humza Yousaf and Shona Robison to an independent adviser for misleading parliament over the WhatsApp row.
The first minister has repeatedly denied misleading parliament over government WhatsApp messages sent during the pandemic.
The row over Health Secretary Michael Matheson's £11,000 worth of data usage on a trip to Morocco rumbles on and we're expecting a personal statement at Holyrood this afternoon.
Meanwhile, at Westminster,Sir Keir Starmer suffered a major rebellion over his stance on the Israel-Gaza war, with 56 of his MPs voting for an immediate ceasefire.
Jess Phillips, Afzal Khan and Yasmin Qureshi were among shadow ministers who quit their roles to back the motion from the SNP, external.
Welcomepublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 16 November 2023
Image source, PA Jane BarlowGood morning and welcome to our live coverage of First Minister's Questions.
We'll bring you the action live from Holyrood, with reports and analysis throughout.
As ever, FMQs gets under way at noon. You can watch live from the chamber by clicking the play icon at the top of this page.