The deputy first minister of Scotland, Shona Robison, has announced that the Scottish government will provide the UK Covid Inquiry with over 14,000 electronic messages. She also stated that First Minister Humza Yousaf will share his WhatsApp messages, without redactions. Previously, the Scottish government had come under fire for not passing on all relevant data to the UK Covid Inquiry, with some additional defamatory message deletions accused of taking place.
Opposition MSPs had claimed that ministers were obstructing the inquiry. Robison apologized to bereaved families for any unclear project-related material, stating it received a request in September to provide WhatsApp messages from pandemic-related officials, ministers, and former ministers. She confirmed the Scottish government was subject to a formal legal order to issue the data under section 21 of the Inquiries Act 2005, citing data security issues.
Ms Robison confirmed that “all requested messages held will be shared in full and unredacted by 6 November.” She added that this would include over 14,000 more WhatsApp messages from officials, ministers, and former ministers. The Scottish inquiry announced a “do not destroy” order which became effective on August 1, 2022, making it potentially illegal for respondents to destroy COVID-related messages after this date.
Senior members of the Scottish government, including former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, had previously been accused of wiping messages or using an auto-delete function. However, Yousaf, who served as Health Secretary before becoming first minister, denied any deletion of electronic files. He said he was willing to answer fully both inquiries
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