Key dates in the Michael Matheson iPad scandal

Michael Matheson has been embroiled in a scandal surrounding a mobile data bill

Health Secretary Michael Matheson has stood down as Scotland's health secretary after an £11,000 data roaming bill was charged to his parliamentary iPad.

The fees were initially paid out of the public purse, with Mr Matheson insisting the device was used for work.

After the story was reported in the press, Mr Matheson blamed an out-of-date Sim card and agreed to pay the money back.

He had been steadfastly backed by First Minister Humza Yousaf.

But ahead of the publication of an investigation by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, Mr Matheson said he was standing down because he did not want the row to become a distraction.

Here is a reminder of the key events.

2022

27 December - Mr Matheson travels to Morocco with his wife and two sons for a week-long holiday.

28 December - The SNP minister contacts the parliament's IT department to tell them that he was out of the country and to say his phone was not working. The parliament said later that its records did not "show any discussion of his iPad". Mr Matheson says he was advised he could use the iPad as a mobile hotspot and that his son helped to set it up.

2023

January - The minister says it was at this point that Parliament informed him about the £10,935.74 bill - including a fee of more than £2,000 on 28 December and more than £8,000 in two separate charges on 2 January. He said he handed over the iPad to parliamentary IT officials. They checked to see if it was working and examined the mobile data usage, but were only presented with a cumulative total and did not see the browsing history.

March - In the absence of a "clear explanation" of how the fees could have been incurred, the health secretary submits an expenses claim to contribute £3,000 from his office expenses, with the rest to be paid by parliament.

8 November - The Telegraph runs the story about the data roaming bill. A spokesperson for Mr Matheson says he used the device for constituency work, but had not switched the Sim over.

9 November - The first minister says it was a legitimate cost and Mr Matheson should not have to pay it back. Mr Matheson says it was that evening that his wife told him his sons had used the iPad during the holiday.

10 November - After reflecting "long and hard", the health secretary announces he will pay back the full cost of the bill. He reiterates he was using it for constituency work.

13 November - Mr Matheson denies that anyone else used his iPad.

14 November - Mr Matheson says it was at this point that he told Mr Yousaf it was his children who used the data. The Scottish Tories threaten a vote of no confidence in the minister if he does not hand in his iPad to allow its browsing history to be examined.

15 November - The Scottish Parliament releases a breakdown of the data usage, prompting some opposition MSPs to point out it could be related to football games.

16 November - In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mr Matheson admits the £11,000 data roaming charge on his iPad was caused by his sons watching football, and says he did not mention it in his previous statement to protect his children. The health secretary tells MSPs he will refer himself to the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body.

19 November - Mr Yousaf denies he was misled by the health secretary but says he could have handled the situation better.

23 November - The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body confirms it will investigate the £11,000 data roaming bill saying it has a "vital interest in the integrity of the members' expenses scheme".

2024

January - Findings of investigation by The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body are due to be given to Mr Matheson.

8 February - Mr Matheson quits as health secretary. In his resignation letter to Mr Yousaf, he says he has still not received the corporate body report. He says he is standing down "to ensure this does not become a distraction to taking forward the government's agenda".