Matheson returns to Holyrood after iPad scandal ban

Former Health Secretary Michael Matheson has returned to Holyrood after serving a record ban for breaching parliament's expenses policy.

The MSP was barred for 27 sitting days after he racked up an £11,000 data bill on his parliamentary iPad - initially paid for from the public purse before he agreed to repay the bill.

He apologised at the time and said he accepted parliament's decision.

Mr Matheson, who quit the cabinet in February, said on his return that he was looking forward to continuing to represent his constituents.

He was suspended for more than five weeks - exceeding previous record bans of one month.

As well as a ban, the Falkirk West MSP received a salary penalty roughly equivalent to the £10,941.74 bill charged to his parliamentary device during a family holiday to Morocco between December 2022 and January 2023.

Mr Matheson initially said the iPad had been used for constituency work when the bill was reported in the press.

He eventually admitted the data bill had been run up by his children using his work device to watch football on holiday.

In February Mr Matheson quit as health secretary after more than nine years in cabinet.

It came ahead of the publication of a report by the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, which found he had breached the MSPs code of conduct.

The government did not back the sanctions against Mr Matheson and called for a review of the complaints process, arguing it was open to bias and prejudice.

Last week, First Minister John Swinney announced planned changes to parliamentary codes of conduct in his Programme for Government.

He said the ministerial code, which is to be published by the end of the year, will allow independent advisers to initiate investigations into the conduct of ministers, as opposed to requiring the first minister to call for a probe.

"I want my government to set the highest standard of propriety and integrity," the SNP leader said.