Jason Leitch, the national clinical director of the Scottish Government, has been accused of regularly deleting his WhatsApp messages related to the coronavirus pandemic. The UK Covid Inquiry has criticized the Scottish Government for failing to hand over any of Leitch's informal communications. The government denies the allegations and states that it followed official guidance on record retention.
Jason Leitch regularly deleted his WhatsApp messages throughout the coronavirus pandemic, it was claimed today.
The Scottish Government today denied Leitch had deleted all of his WhatsApp messages relating to the pandemic. Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, said: “Anyone who has destroyed evidence will have betrayed those affected by the pandemic and deferred justice for the families still reeling from the pandemic.
Humza Yousaf later could not say whether ministers had switched on an auto-deletion function on WhatsApp, which automatically deletes messages after a set period, when asked by reporters. The inquiry asked for the position of 70 individuals, "their usage of such messages, including details of groups in which they participated and the identity of individuals with whom they corresponded in connection with the government pandemic response, what messages still exist and if they do not exist why they do not."
Shona Robison, the Deputy First Minister, said: "The Scottish Government records management policy makes clear what must be recorded in the official record, given that it isn't practical, cost-effective or necessary for any organisation to retain every exchange that everyone working within that organisation creates.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scottish Government deleted most pandemic WhatsApp messages, inquiry believesFirst Minister Humza Yousaf has said the matter is being investigated.
Read more »
Scottish Government deleted most pandemic WhatsApp messages, inquiry believesFirst Minister Humza Yousaf has said the matter is being investigated.
Read more »
Scottish Government Denies Deletion of WhatsApp Messages During Covid-19 PandemicThe Scottish Government has denied reports that Jason Leitch deleted WhatsApp messages every day during the Covid-19 pandemic and insisted all guidance was followed. Ministers have rejected the suggestion and insisted that all record management guidance was followed, adding that thousands of documents have been sent to the probe.
Read more »
Scottish Government accused of withholding WhatsApp messages from Covid InquiryThe Scottish Government has been accused of not providing any WhatsApp messages to the UK Covid Inquiry, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in decision-making during the pandemic.
Read more »
Jason Leitch 'deleted WhatsApp messages' during Covid-19 pandemicThe Scottish government said it had been asked by the UK Covid-19 inquiry to provide all material related to decision-making.
Read more »
Ministers deny Jason Leitch 'deleted WhatsApps every day' during pandemicTHE Scottish Government has denied reports that Jason Leitch deleted WhatsApp messages every day during the Covid-19 pandemic and insisted all…
Read more »