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| Minister and relative in chauffeur trip to final | Minister and relative in chauffeur trip to final |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Angela Constance and a family member went to Hampden to see Celtic play Rangers | Angela Constance and a family member went to Hampden to see Celtic play Rangers |
| Justice Secretary Angela Constance has been criticised after she and a relative used a government chauffeur service to go to Sunday's Scottish League Cup final at Hampden. | Justice Secretary Angela Constance has been criticised after she and a relative used a government chauffeur service to go to Sunday's Scottish League Cup final at Hampden. |
| The game came two days before the first minister updated the ministerial code to say family members should only join ministers in cars when it is in the public interest, on security grounds, or in "exceptional" circumstances. | The game came two days before the first minister updated the ministerial code to say family members should only join ministers in cars when it is in the public interest, on security grounds, or in "exceptional" circumstances. |
| The change followed controversy over Health Secretary Neil Gray using the chauffeur service to attend fixtures, including six occasions when he was accompanied by a relative or guest. | The change followed controversy over Health Secretary Neil Gray using the chauffeur service to attend fixtures, including six occasions when he was accompanied by a relative or guest. |
| The Scottish government said Constance was at the game on official business and at no additional cost to the taxpayer. | The Scottish government said Constance was at the game on official business and at no additional cost to the taxpayer. |
| A spokesperson added: "She discussed with the SPFL the continued efforts to tackle the illegal use of pyrotechnics at football matches and observed the policing of such sporting events." | A spokesperson added: "She discussed with the SPFL the continued efforts to tackle the illegal use of pyrotechnics at football matches and observed the policing of such sporting events." |
| Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said Constance - whose attendance at the game was first reported by the Daily Record - had "learned nothing" from the Gray "scandal". | |
| Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton criticised the SNP government | Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton criticised the SNP government |
| "The public will be astonished that Angela Constance deemed it appropriate to use a ministerial car to go to the Old Firm this weekend," she said. | "The public will be astonished that Angela Constance deemed it appropriate to use a ministerial car to go to the Old Firm this weekend," she said. |
| "It's no wonder public trust in politicians is at an all-time low when senior SNP figures are using taxpayer-funded limos to take family members to football matches, all under the flimsy pretence of ministerial duties." | "It's no wonder public trust in politicians is at an all-time low when senior SNP figures are using taxpayer-funded limos to take family members to football matches, all under the flimsy pretence of ministerial duties." |
| The government revealed this week, external that ministers were joined by either partners, friends or family members at official events 49 times in the past three years. | The government revealed this week, external that ministers were joined by either partners, friends or family members at official events 49 times in the past three years. |
| For four of those events, ministers were accompanied by their guests in ministerial cars. The government said it did not hold the travel information for all the other engagements. | For four of those events, ministers were accompanied by their guests in ministerial cars. The government said it did not hold the travel information for all the other engagements. |
| What are the rules for ministers? | What are the rules for ministers? |
| In general, ministers are allowed to use the chauffeur service for official business and for transport between their home and the office. | In general, ministers are allowed to use the chauffeur service for official business and for transport between their home and the office. |
| The updated ministerial code says close family members are able to travel with a ministers in an official car when it is "clearly in the public interest for them to attend an official engagement and/or where it is justified on security grounds". | The updated ministerial code says close family members are able to travel with a ministers in an official car when it is "clearly in the public interest for them to attend an official engagement and/or where it is justified on security grounds". |
| It says that in all other circumstances, close relatives should only join ministers in the chauffeur-driven transport "on an exceptional basis and where this does not incur any additional public expenditure or impact on the delivery of the official duties of the minister concerned". | It says that in all other circumstances, close relatives should only join ministers in the chauffeur-driven transport "on an exceptional basis and where this does not incur any additional public expenditure or impact on the delivery of the official duties of the minister concerned". |
| The code says ministers should pay "special attention" to the need to use the chauffeur service "efficiently", with ministers encouraged to the use of public transport "wherever possible". | The code says ministers should pay "special attention" to the need to use the chauffeur service "efficiently", with ministers encouraged to the use of public transport "wherever possible". |
| Neil Gray came under fire after using ministerial cars to attend football matches | Neil Gray came under fire after using ministerial cars to attend football matches |
| The code was updated after Gray apologised to parliament over his use of a ministerial car. | The code was updated after Gray apologised to parliament over his use of a ministerial car. |
| The Aberdeen supporter said he should have attended a "wider range" of football matches after using ministerial cars to attend four games involving his team, as well as five Scotland games. | The Aberdeen supporter said he should have attended a "wider range" of football matches after using ministerial cars to attend four games involving his team, as well as five Scotland games. |
| He said he had been joined by a family member or guest at six of the matches but at no additional cost to the taxpayer. | He said he had been joined by a family member or guest at six of the matches but at no additional cost to the taxpayer. |
| Gray insisted all the engagements were "official ministerial business". | Gray insisted all the engagements were "official ministerial business". |