Covid inquiry: Widow demands answers over husband's files

The widow of a top Scottish government official has called for data from his laptop to be submitted to the UK Covid inquiry.

Louise Slorance, whose husband Andrew died after catching Covid while having cancer treatment in a Glasgow hospital in 2020, said the files could contain vital information.

She also called on the government to answer questions about his work phone.

The government said it had submitted "all relevant retained messages".

Mrs Slorance, who said she still had the laptop but was unable to log on to it, said potentially crucial files from it had not been submitted to the inquiry.

Her husband held a key role in planning and responding to emergencies such as Covid-19, Mrs Slorance said in a statement.

She accused the Scottish government of having played "fast and loose" with information from the last months of her husband's life.

"The laptop should contain much of the basis for government decision-making during 2020, from emails to documents and from planning to final policy," Mrs Slorance said.

"As a shielder, Andrew was not in the office for the most part up to his death in December 2020, 'water cooler conversations' could not happen.

"His work mobile could provide insight into that type of chat."

Mrs Slorance called on the Scottish government to "stop delaying and answer my questions" on her husband's mobile phone - "what happened to the mobile, how was its data stored and recorded and has the data been submitted to the two inquiries?"

She added: "These unfiltered sources of information are Andrew's voice in his absence. To truly hear his voice this information should be provided in full in answering the questions of the bereaved and learning vital lessons for the future."

Mrs Slorance has been demanding answers from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde following her husband's death at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

He was in the hospital receiving treatment for Mantle Cell Lymphoma when he contracted Covid. He died nearly six weeks into his stay at the hospital.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: "The first minister's thoughts remain with Mrs Slorance and all of Andrew's loved ones.

"The Scottish government has now handed all relevant retained messages to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry in response to their requests for informal communications regarding the response to Covid-19.

"Beyond that, it is not for the Scottish government to disclose details of evidence requested by, and submitted to the inquiries.

"Both inquiries are issuing their requests for information in confidence."

The UK Covid Inquiry has asked to see the WhatsApp messages of 70 officials, medical chiefs, ministers and former ministers, and identified 137 messaging groups that could contain relevant information.

However, the inquiry's counsel, Jamie Dawson KC, said last month that "very few" of the messages it was interested in appeared to have been retained.

During First Minister's Questions on Thursday, Humza Yousaf denied misleading parliament over when ministers had been asked to submit evidence.

The first minister and his deputy Shona Robison told MSPs last week they were asked to submit group messages to the UK Covid Inquiry in September.

But a timeline published by Ms Robison on Wednesday stated ministers had first been asked to release WhatsApp files seven months earlier in February.

The first minster said it was "not the case" that he and Ms Robison had misled parliament.

He also apologised "unreservedly" for any distress caused to bereaved families.