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Official action has been launched by a watchdog into the Scottish government's use of informal messaging.

The Scottish Information Commissioner, who oversees freedom of information (FOI) laws, stated that the Covid-19 inquiry had raised "significant practice concerns" over how ministers used messaging services such as WhatsApp.

The inquiry heard that a number of Scottish government figures, including the then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, had deleted messages that referred to government business.

David Hamilton, the Scottish information commissioner, stated that failing to retain a full record of the decision-making process had "subverted the principles" of freedom of information legislation.

He added that the public's right to request information had been frustrated, and would officially launch an "intervention" to make practice recommendations.

Speaking to BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show, Mr Hamilton stated: "Some of the comments, the lack of record retention, lack of minutes, are all things that are in contravention of the codes of practice that accompany freedom of information legislation.

"The fact that we have these incomplete records of decisions is something that is in breach of the code."

The Scottish Government stated that it remained "committed" to ensuring "openness and transparency" and that Scotland had the most "open and far-reaching" FOI legislation in the UK.

A spokesman said: "We have not yet received the notice from the Scottish Information Commissioner, when we do so we will respond and of course cooperate with the commissioner as required.

"The first minister has commissioned an externally led review into the use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology in the Scottish government. This will take particular account of government interaction with statutory public inquiries."

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