Philip Hogg, Chief Executive (right) of trade body Homes for Scotland, said:

“We are delighted at the importance the First Minister has attached to housing and think that the new shared equity scheme announced in her Programme for Government could make a big contribution to increasing the supply of affordable housing whilst also helping to meet the home ownership aspirations of the majority of those living in Scotland.

“With every home delivered under the current Help to Buy scheme on average costing tax payers approximately £21,000 less than the grant funding required for a socially rented home – and the equity loans also being repayable - the figures are compelling.

“Indeed, targeting scarce resources to ensure we have enough warm, sustainable homes of all types to meet the housing aspirations, whatever these may be, of Scotland’s people is fundamental to achieving the First Minister’s goal of improving opportunity for all.”