Parliament Launches Inquiry into Michael Matheson's £11,000 iPad Expense

The Scottish Parliament's cross-party oversight committee is set to examine Health Secretary Michael Matheson's controversial £11,000 iPad data roaming charges incurred on a trip to Morocco.

The expense, originally covered by public funds, was attributed to Matheson's sons using the iPad to stream football. Matheson, who initially reported the iPad's use as strictly for official business, has agreed to an inquiry and has already pledged repayment of a portion of the bill.

The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB), tasked with ensuring ethical use of parliamentary resources, will determine if the charges align with its policies, possibly leading to further actions by the standards committee.

Political opponents have criticized Matheson's management of the situation and suggested it reflects broader issues of transparency within the government. The first of its kind, this investigation by the SPCB focuses solely on the financial propriety of the data roaming charges.