Quelltext der Seite Limo Row Health Secretary Neil Gray Could Face Official Investigation

<br>Beleaguered health secretary Neil Gray was under fresh pressure last night as it was revealed he could face a Holyrood probe over his use of taxpayer-funded limousines to see his favourite football team.<br><br>Scotland's top civil servant, Permanent Secretary JP Marks, has received a formal complaint detailing concerns that Mr Gray misused taxpayers' money when he travelled to watch Aberdeen FC by chauffeur-driven car with a friend or family member.<br><br>He has been urged to disclose crucial information about what the civil service knew and when, which could reveal whether Mr Gray has broken the ministerial code.<br><br>Any minister found to have breached the rules would face calls to resign.<br><br>Pressure on the Nationalist health secretary continues to intensify as the Mail on Sunday also reveals:<br><br>- Mr Gray did not separately record all of his meetings with organisations or named people who he claims to have met with at the matches in the official ministerial register.<br><br>- Limo records show that on one match day, he was taken to his ministerial meetings, before being driven home and then onto the game.<br><br>Now, the Scottish Conservatives have written to Scotland's top civil servant to demand an official Holyrood investigation.<br><br><br><br><br>Neil Gray travelled to football matches in Government limousines<br><br>It is hoped information revealed by the civil service - including whether officials were in attendance at every game, and what notes were taken - could clarify whether or not Mr Gray was entitled to use taxpayer-funded limos to attend the events.<br><br>First Minister John Swinney has so far rejected calls to open an investigation into his health secretary and claims he believes the matter is ‘closed'.<br><br>Last night, Scottish Conservative MSP for Central Scotland Stephen Kerr said: ‘John Swinney might think this matter is closed, but the exact opposite is true. If the First Minister does not do the right thing and launch a ministerial code investigation, then the Permanent Secretary must conduct his own investigation.<br><br>‘The public are furious that yet another SNP health secretary has misused their money for their own benefit, but Neil Gray does not seem to understand that.<br><br>‘His statement raised more questions than answers, and I won't let the SNP try to brush them under the carpet.'<br><br>On Thursday, Mr Gray apologised to MSPs for failing to ensure he went to see teams other than Aberdeen, a move he said made him appear more like a fan than a minister.<br><br>But he has insisted that taking government-funded limos to attend eight football matches between March 2022 and last month was within the ministerial rules, as he was also carrying out ‘official business' while he was there.<br><br>A letter sent to Mr Marks, seen by this newspaper asks him to investigate what justification Mr Gray gave to civil servants to use the Government Car Service and if any civil servants accompaned him to any of the Aberdeen games he attended.<br><br>It also asks if civil servants made any notes of the meetings or at least a summary note, as is required in section 4.23 and 4.24 of the ministerial code - and urges Mr Marks to immediately publish any such records.<br><br>Mr Kerr, who penned the correspondence adds: ‘For several games which Mr Gray attended, it does not appear that a separate ministerial meeting has been recorded relating to the subject matter he claims to have been discussing at the event.'<br><br>He concludes: ‘I look forward to a swift response and I hope you will also launch an investigation into this matter, so the public can be fully assured that civil servants have acted appropriately at all times and any wrongdoing was exclusively down to the actions of Mr Gray.'<br><br><br><br>If you have any kind of inquiries pertaining to where and ways to utilize [https://jetblacktransportation.com/ car services nyc], you could call us at the website.