MSPs have been warned not to make the same mistake as SNP health secretary Michael Matheson and run up a huge data bill on holiday this Christmas.
Holyrood’s IT department has issued a stern notice to politicians and staff telling them to ensure they have the “appropriate roaming bundle” in place for their phone or iPad SIM card.
Failure to tell IT in advance about the mobile number involved, destination and holiday dates “will result in expensive out of tariff charges or loss of connection”, officials said.
Mr Matheson faced calls to resign last month after it emerged he had run up an £11,000 bill on his parliamentary iPad while on holiday in Morocco in the New Year.
He later revealed his teenage sons had wracked up the charge watching football matches by using the device as a hotspot.
Mr Matheson’s failure to have an outdated SIM card replaced, despite messages from the IT department, had contributed to the extraordinary cost.
He is currently being investigated by the cross-party body which oversees the parliamentary estate for claiming £3000 towards the bill on his MSP expenses.
Holyrood’s IT department today issued an email to MSPs and staff titled: “FOR ACTION - Travelling abroad this Christmas?”
It went on: “Planning to travel abroad this Christmas?
“If you are travelling abroad this Christmas and intending to use your phone while not connected to Wi-Fi, you must let the IT Helpdesk… know so that an appropriate roaming bundle can be applied.
“Please note that this includes European destinations which are no longer covered under domestic tariffs.
“Please let us know at least 2 working days before you travel and include the following information in your request:
• Mobile number
• Destination
• Date of leaving and date of return
“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 phone or put it on airplane mode and connect to Wi-Fi.”
Although the email did not mention Mr Matheson by name, the connection was obvious to parliamentary workers.
A Scottish Conservative source said: "This is a not-so-subtle reminder from the Parliamentary authorities.
“We can only hope their IT department had the sense to ask for a ‘read’ receipt when they sent it to the scandal-ridden SNP health secretary – who blithely ignored their previous memos about overseas data use.
“With an Old Firm game looming on 30th December, they’ve made it clear that they don’t want another Matheson-esque bill.”
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) is due to give its verdict on whether Mr Matheson’s £3000 claim was appropriate next month.
First Minister Humza Yousaf has said Mr Matheson made an “honest mistake” and did not break the ministerial code.
However if the SPCB ruled Mr Matheson wrongly claimed public money on the basis his bill was for constituency work, the health secretary’s position could be untenable.
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