Question reference: S6W-23205
- Asked by: Pam Gosal, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 24 November 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance has received a request under rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules 2006 for evidence regarding any WhatsApp messages and informal communications with cabinet secretaries, ministers, senior civil servants or advisers, on Scottish Government-issued or personal devices, in relation to matters for which he was responsible in his role as Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance between May 2021 and February 2022; whether he has provided any such messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.
Answer
The Scottish Government has received a number of requests from the UK Covid-19 Inquiry under Rule 9 of the Inquiry Rules Act 2006, and has been asked not to disclose the evidence that has been requested or provided, as have all core participants.
As a result, the Scottish Government is unable to confirm or comment on the details of any Rule 9 requests to individuals.
The Scottish Government remains fully committed in its cooperation with both the UK and Scottish Covid-19 Inquiries in their independent work to explore the handling of the pandemic and to identify the vital lessons we all need to learn.