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The following table shows a breakdown of the spend for the Open Marked Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) in each financial year:

The Open Market Shared Equity Scheme (OMSE) is available to first-time buyers and priority access groups. OMSE is a demand led scheme and as such The Scottish Government does not estimate how many priority access applications there will be per financial year.

Applicants to OMSE have the choice to declare on their application which route they are applying under, whether that be as a first-time buyer or a priority access group. This means that some first-time buyers may also be disabled, a veteran etc however this information will not be captured as part of their application.

Due to the demand led nature of the scheme we also do not project estimates for geographical or Local Authority areas.

Published information on OMSE home purchases in each Local Authority area for previous financial years can be found here: Affordable Housing Supply Programme - More homes - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 is a multi-topic Act with an extensive number of statutory instruments needed to implement the various parts. Given the scale of this piece of legislation we have taken a measured and considered approach in implementing the Act.

Large sections of the Act have been fully implemented including workplace parking, low emission zones, and parking prohibitions. Significant progress is being made in relation to the remaining areas including bus services (with franchising and partnership powers commenced in December 2023), and ticketing arrangements and schemes.

In relation to your specific questions:

1. We are exploring opportunities to enhance open data so more public transport information is available to users and third parties. Legislation is not the sole route, our Bus Open Data provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act are high level to allow us to work through what can be done without legislation; recognising technology advancements and operators’ positive participation already through services such as Traveline Scotland. However we are actively considering secondary legislation requirements in light of Department for Transport advances and our current data provision services in Scotland and will seek further feedback from local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships.

2. We will be laying regulations before the end of 2024 on the appointment, removal and replacement of panel members; the remuneration of panel members; and the process to be followed by the panel in making decisions.

3. The National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board (NSTAB), established in 2023, will advise on national ticketing standards, as well as delivery of measures from the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. Timescales and costs of delivering a national integrated ticketing system will be supported by the advice of NSTAB.

We understand that the hospitality sector, alongside other sectors within the economy, including construction and manufacturing, are facing challenges in attracting, recruiting and retaining workers. This situation has been exacerbated by Brexit and the loss of people from the EU, as well as problems caused by the pandemic.

We regularly monitor and assess the performance of the tourism and hospitality sector through a range of official statistics, as well as via regular engagement with key stakeholders, including the main hospitality trade bodies. Our most recent statistics show that in May 2024 29% of businesses in the accommodation and food services sector reported difficulties in recruiting employees, slightly higher than the Scotland average (27%). (Source BICS ONS May 2024).

In April 2024 , one in five (18%) of businesses within the accommodation and food sector reported recruitment difficulties (lower than the Scottish average for all businesses at 24%). The most common reason given for businesses reporting recruitment difficulties, by over half, was a lack of qualified applicants for the roles on offer (53%), while just under a third cited the reduced number of EU applicants (30%). (Source BICS ONS April 2024).

The Scottish Government is taking measures within our powers, to address labour and skills shortage issues. These include providing a range of employability support to help people enter the workforce alongside funding for the development of modern apprenticeships via Skills Development Scotland to meet the needs of the tourism and hospitality sector. We are also working to explore solutions to staff shortages in collaboration with the sector, through our Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group and our Tourism and Hospitality Skills Group.

Fair Work is at the heart of our national Tourism Strategy; Outlook 2030 which commits to support and enable the adoption of Fair work practices in Scotland’s tourism sector. We continue to promote fair work measures in the sector which will help businesses attract and retain staff and will carefully consider recommendations from the Fair Work Convention’s Hospitality inquiry and take forward as appropriate.

While immigration is reserved, we hope to work collaboratively with the new UK Government to make a difference to the lives of people in Scotland, as the First Minister made clear in his meeting with the new Prime Minister on Sunday 7 July.

Scotland’s distinct demographic and economic needs require a tailored approach to migration. Scotland needs access to international talent and skills at all levels of the economy, for vital, challenging roles within sectors including tourism and hospitality.

Scottish Ministers are committed to working closely with the UK Government in delivering an immigration system that supports the prosperity of Scotland’s economy and communities.

I refer the member to my answer to question S6W-27963 on 23 July 2024. 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 .

An initial Equalities Impact Assessment , Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA): Purpose and Principles (www.gov.scot) for the Purpose and Principles for Post-School education, research and skills Post-school education, research and skills - purpose and principles - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) was published on 4 July 2023. Consideration of all protected characteristics, including gender, will continue to inform the design and delivery of post school education and skills reform.

This will build on our existing work to address barriers for women and girls, including:

•A range of resources developed by Education Scotland to address gender segregation in subject choices in schools

•Duties on colleges and universities to tackle inequality, including gender disparities within STEM subject areas

•Working with the Equally Safe in Colleges and Universities Core Leadership Group to address gender-based violence.

•The refreshed Fair Work Action Plan which was published in December 2022 and aims to take an intersectional approach, where possible, to tackling the structural labour market barriers faced by disadvantaged groups in Scotland’s labour market including women.

On the specifics of skills planning, consideration of all protected characteristics, including gender and socio-economically disadvantaged groups, will be embedded throughout the process.

Colleges are responsible for their own operational decisions. College Principals’ pay and conditions packages are for individual colleges to determine. Whilst Public Sector Pay Policy does not apply directly to colleges, the Scottish Funding Council’s Financial Memorandum states that colleges must have regard to it. The Scottish Government expects colleges and their Boards to be mindful of Public Sector Pay Policy Public sector pay policy 2024 to 2025 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) and demonstrate restraint when determining senior staff salaries.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-28357 on 23 July 2024. 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 .

Contractual terms and conditions of Principals is a matter for individual colleges to determine. The Scottish Government therefore does not hold this information.

The Scottish Government believes that Citizens’ Assemblies are an important and effective method to involve the public in policy and decision making.

The Scottish Government is currently engaged in developing the prospectus for independence through the Building a New Scotland papers, in order that people have information about the opportunities of independence and what it would mean for them. At this stage there are no plans for Citizens’ Assemblies on Scotland’s route to independence.

The Building a New Scotland paper on Scotland’s constitution makes a commitment to a legally mandated Constitutional Convention that would create the permanent constitution of an independent Scotland.