Scotland’s Health Secretary, Michael Matheson, is set to repay nearly £11,000 for data roaming charges accrued during a holiday in Morocco. The government minister attributed the charges to an outdated SIM card while stressing the reimbursement decision as the “right one in all circumstances.” Matheson acknowledged the parliament’s support but admitted the SIM card should have been replaced sooner.
Efforts were made to challenge the exorbitant bill, but officials faced disappointment as the company declined to waive any of the charges. Originally, Matheson had agreed to personally contribute £3,000 from his expenses budget, leaving the Scottish Parliament to cover the remaining amount.
At the time of the incident, Michael Matheson served as the net zero, energy, and transport secretary in Nicola Sturgeon’s government. Since then, he has been appointed health secretary under Humza Yousaf, marking a significant shift in his political role.
Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, labelled the situation as “mind-boggling.” She had questioned the justification for the public to bear the substantial bill, asserting that the SNP is out of touch when it comes to responsible use of taxpayers’ money.
