The Scottish Parliament has issued a pre-Christmas warning to MSPs and staff about using mobiles abroad following the Michael Matheson iPad scandal.
MSPs and staff were warned by the Holyrood IT Department to tell them if they are travelling abroad over the Christmas recess so that a roaming bundle can be applied. They were told that not doing so “will result in expensive out of tariff charges or loss of connection”.
Former Health Secretary Matheson racked up a £11,000 data roaming bill on a parliamentary iPad while in Morocco with his family over the Xmas break two years ago. It eventually led to him resigning as a minister. The bill was caused by the MSP failing to change his SIM card when he was told to do so.
He lied that he had doing parliamentary work and tried to get the costs covered by his expenses and the Scottish Parliament. It later emerged that the bill had been racked up by watching football, including an Old Firm game. Matheson blamed this on his sons.
Matheson refused to stand down as Health Secretary but did so after he was found to have breached the MSP code of conduct and was given a 27-day suspension from Holyrood. He has since refused to stand down as an MP.
The Scottish Parliament’s IT services brought in a £60 data roaming charge around the same time Matheson stood down as Health Secretary.
The email from the IT Helpdesk to MSPs, seen by the Record, said: “If you are travelling abroad this winter and intend to use your device while not connected to Wi-Fi, you must let the IT Helpdesk know so that an appropriate roaming bundle can be applied. MSP staff and Parliament staff require authorisation prior to requesting a bundle.
“Please note that this includes European destinations which are no longer covered under domestic tariffs. A spend cap of £60 will be applied to your device, you will receive text messages advising when it has been applied and again when you are approaching your limit.”
It added: “Failure to do so will result in expensive out of tariff charges or loss of connection. If you are on a cruise or do not have a bundle applied, please switch off your device or put it on airplane mode and connect to Wi-Fi.”
A Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “New mobile data controls, including an overseas cost cap, were introduced by the Parliament in February 2024.”
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