Chamber and committees

We do not hold data centrally on the number of NHS staff who would potentially be affected by the re-introduction of the abatement rules.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-07924 on 27 April 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-36024 on 15 March 2021. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

Transport Scotland officials are currently finalising the programme of activities for the National Rail Conversation and more information, including how (a) trade unions and (b) the public can get involved, will be announced in May after the Local Elections.

Using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to monitor and fine moving traffic would require local authorities to have the powers to enforce moving traffic violation. Local authorities currently do not have the powers for such enforcement. This would require a change to primary legislation and to date there has been no significant call for these powers from local authorities in Scotland.

In Scotland, moving traffic violations remain a matter for the Police.

In February 2021, when the scale and pace of the recovery from the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic remained uncertain, a prior information notice (PIN) was published to preserve the Scottish Ministers’ ability to award a Temporary Measures Agreement (TMA) for the Caledonian Sleeper franchise from March 2022, following expiry of the Emergency Measures Agreement, should it be necessary at that stage to continue such support.

The TMA, signed on 28 February 2022, is an agreement between the Scottish Ministers and Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited (‘Serco’). The TMA does not represent a unilateral decision taken by the Scottish Government.

The necessity of a TMA with Serco, to continue Emergency Measures type support for the Caledonian Sleeper franchise, was considered by the Scottish Government at various points during 2021 and in the early part of 2022.

Thereafter, on 25 February 2022, the Scottish Government presented a draft version of the TMA to Serco for consideration. The TMA was finalised and agreed between the Scottish Ministers and Serco on 28 February 2022.

It was announced that the Scottish Government had agreed a new Temporary Measures Agreement with Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited in a letter to the Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee on 17 March 2022. An announcement was also published on the Transport Scotland website on the same day.

https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/net-zero-energy-and-transport-committee/correspondence/2022/20220317_jenny_gilruth_msp_to_convener_additional_funding_support.pdf .

https://www.transport.gov.scot/news/ministerial-statement-additional-funding-support-for-rail-services/ .

From 1 April 2022 ScotRail Trains Limited has been subject to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. On the ScotRail website, the page Information Requests | ScotRail , provides details of how to submit a request for information that is not included within the ScotRail Trains Limited publication scheme.

The Abellio ScotRail Franchise Agreement governs what data is retained and transferred when the Franchise expired and this has been followed by Abellio.

ScotRail Trains Limited has adopted the Model Publication Scheme developed and approved by the Scottish Information Commissioner without amendment and has produced a guide to the information that they publish within the classes in the scheme available through their website and other channels.

Currently, Scottish Government have no confirmed timetable for a consultation process for the proposed Scottish Education Exchange programme. However, the Scottish Government have had and continue to have discussions with stakeholders in higher and further education, schools, community learning and development, youth and sports to listen to their views, needs, priorities and requirements for a Scottish Education Exchange Programme and on what would work best for learners an staff across the board.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of the portability of care and care packages if people move from one local authority area to another. To support this, a new Self-directed Support Framework of Standards was published in March 2021. This includes a commitment to consistency of practice, and states that Local Authorities should work collaboratively to ensure that people can move from one Local Authority area to another while retaining a level of provision sufficient to meet their agreed outcomes. The Scottish Government is continuing to work with Local Authorities to ensure the effective implementation of the Standards and to continue to improve the implementation of Self-directed Support.

The Scottish Government is committed to implementing the key recommendations of the Independent Review of Adult Social Care, including the establishment of a National Care Service (NCS). The consultation on the NCS, undertaken in 2021, set out proposals to ensure that there is not a postcode lottery and to support the portability of care. Proposals in respect of the development of the NCS will be brought forward during the lifetime of this parliament.