Michael Matheson returns to Scottish Parliament after record ban over iPad scandal

Michael Matheson has returned to the Scottish Parliament after serving a record five-week ban over his iPad expenses scandal.

The former health secretary was barred from Holyrood for 27 sitting days after racking up an £11,000 data charge while on holiday in Morocco.

The bill was initially paid by the taxpayer but Matheson later agreed to pay it after the story broke.

The Falkirk West MSP was accused of lying about the bill after saying the iPad was only used for constituency work.

But he later admitted his children had used it to stream football, although he did not know at the time.

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Former health secretary Michael Matheson tried to use expenses to cover a near-£11,000 data roaming bill racked up on a parliamentary iPad during a family holiday to Morocco.

He apologised for the expense and said he accepted MSPs’ decision.

As part of his punishment, Matheson also received a salary penalty roughly equivalent to his iPad bill.

He quit his role as health secretary under then first minister Humza Yousaf in February, ending more than nine years in cabinet.

His decision followed a report by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body which found he breached the MSPs’ code of conduct.

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