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People buying a New Supply Shared Equity property from a registered social landlord must generally take an equity stake of between 60 and 80 per cent of the market value of the property. The grant provider may however agree to reduce the minimum equity stake to 51 per cent.

The independent evaluation by ODS Consulting identified concerns about how the shared ownership scheme met purchasers’ needs. It found that shared ownership does not offer the best value for money for either the Scottish Government or for the purchaser compared to shared equity schemes. A significant proportion of those sharing owners interviewed raised concerns about the scheme; with only half feeling shared ownership had definitely been the right option for them.

ODS Consulting carried out independent research for the Scottish Government on four of the low-cost initiative for first time buyers (LIFT) schemes in 2010-11. The four schemes were new supply shared equity, open market shared equity, shared ownership and grants for rent and ownership. The evaluation focused on the outcomes achieved by these LIFT schemes, and looked specifically at six key areas:

Meeting people’s needs;

Allowing for mobility;

Affordability;

Additionality;

Mixed communities, and

Value for money

It involved a desktop review, telephone interviews with 151 individuals who had purchased properties through one of the LIFT schemes, and stakeholder consultations. A copy of the report can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/01/18143303/0.

This is likely to apply where a housing market is particularly pressured, or where people with particular housing needs have identifiable additional housing costs.

The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our digital strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress made by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will comprise local broadband plans and will be developed throughout 2011 collectively with local authorities, enterprise agencies and other stakeholders. Local broadband plans will outline how and when next generation broadband will be rolled-out to the areas within each region. Key to the success of these local broadband plans will be securing the best possible share from the £530 million allocated at UK level for broadband delivery.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles.

As this project is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is an operational matter for them, I suggest you write to its chief executive if you require additional information.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently finalising its local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region.

Additionally, the South of Scotland Alliance, whose area covers the geographic boundaries of Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council, expects to have a comprehensive plan completed by September 2011.

The Scottish Government is currently working with local authorities, Scottish Enterprise and other stakeholders to help them develop local broadband plans for the remaining regions of Scotland this year.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney. Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans to engage with a range of stakeholders in the development of its local broadband plan, including local authorities, the Scottish Government, the wider public sector, industry, local businesses, communities and individuals, MSPs and the UK Government.

As this project is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is an operational matter for them, I suggest you write to its chief executive if you require additional information.

The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our Digital Strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will comprise local broadband plans and will be developed throughout 2011 collectively with local authorities, our Enterprise Agencies and other stakeholders. It is the responsibility of these bodies to set the criteria for the prioritisation of the rollout of next generation broadband in each region and local area within each region.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-85 on 31 May 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.