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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.

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.

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.

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 .

ScotRail Trains Ltd has successfully secured significant rolling stock lease savings over the next 4 year period. The estimated lease savings are values deemed commercially sensitive.

Immigration is reserved to the UK Parliament and handled by the Home Office. This includes the operation of immigration removal centres.

Scottish Ministers have repeatedly raised concerns about the UK Government’s asylum and immigration systems with the Home Office and will continue to do so.

Safeguarding our democracy is of upmost importance to the Scottish Government. This includes being an open, accessible and transparent government. Public officials, including Ministers, MSPs and councillors, are subject to Code of Conducts which provide a clear set of principles and standards for their behaviour, including how to avoid undue interference from external actors. We believe the public should have trust in those they elect.

In addition to taking forward a National Conversation on rail, we will be consulting specifically on women’s safety when using public transport.

The specific means by which we carry out this engagement will be informed by initial discussions with women’s groups organisations, Trade Union partners and wider stakeholders. A range of options will be presented for how this engagement takes place. It is envisaged that these will include options for engagement that is open to all, focussed on specific groups or combines elements of both.

Specific timescales will be outlined following initial discussions with the relevant representative groups on the preferred approach for carrying out this engagement.

As part of the British Sign Language (BSL) National Plan 2017 – 2023, the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) approach is being embedded, with a D/deaf or Deafblind child and their family offered the right information and support at the right time to engage with BSL. The Scottish Government remains committed to providing additional funding to enable local authorities to offer free British Sign Language tuition for deaf children from the age of five, delivery of which will contribute to Action 13 and 14 in the National Plan. Work is underway to scope how best to deliver this commitment.

The Scottish Government published the BSL Progress Report on 27 October 2021, outlining progress made towards implementing the BSL National Plan. All updates relating to the British Sign Language National Plan 2017 – 2023 can be found in this report. For example, the Scottish Book Trust produced and published two BSL stories on their BookBug website and app. This work also generated BSL glossaries, which allows families, carers and children to learn BSL in their own homes.