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The Health Committee took evidence from the health secretary and campaigners on the controversial Penrose Inquiry into blood contaminations
The 50% increase in households requesting financial assistance to pay fuel and heating bills and the productivity of the Laggan and Tormore fields west of Shetland were raised in topical questions
MSPs debated the Transplantation (Authorisation of Removal of Organs etc.) (Scotland) Bill for the first time, before being asked to pass its general principles
The Public Audit Committee led a debate on audits of North Glasgow College in 2012-13 and Coatbridge College in 2013-14 and on an overview of Scotland's Colleges in 2015
Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott led a member's debate on broadband and mobile phone coverage in rural and island communities
SNP MSP Christine Grahame says she cannot back the general principles of the Transplantation Bill.
Ms Grahame says presumed consent in the absence of any evidence of consent is unacceptable.
The principle of consent must not be waved aside, even for the best of reasons, says the SNP MSP.
In December, Wales became the first nation in the UK to introduce a "revolutionary" new system to increase the number of organ donors.
From Tuesday, adults will be regarded as having consented to organ donation unless they have opted out.
Welsh Health Minister Mark Drakeford
More than one million people - 34% of the population - have registered to opt in already and 86,000 have opted out.
Health Minister Mark Drakeford called it a "ground-breaking step which will save lives".
He paid tribute to the cross-party support for the change in the law, which aims to increase the number of donors by 25%.
Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume says he supports this bill, as lives are being lost due to the lack of available organs.
Mr Hume points to the high transplantation rate in Spain, which has a soft opt-out and also mentions the introduction of the system in Wales.
SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson says his father in law died suddenly and his widow and daughters agreed to him being an organ donor.
Mr Stevenson says the instructions on his own death are now clear, reuse everything in anyway that helps.
The former minister says at the outset of this bill he told the whips that he could not vote against the general principles of this bill and he has not changed his mind.
The SNP MSP says any increase in organ donors means he must back the general principles of this bill.
SNP MSP Sandra White congratulates Labour MSP Anne McTaggart for bringing the bill to this stage with great tenacity.
Ms White says she supports the bill and will be voting for it tonight. The Labour benches applaud.
The SNP MSP says it's a free vote and no one is being pressured into voting one way or another.
We should cool some of the language being used when we don't agree with one another, she says.
Ms White closes saying she wishes the bill all the best as it passes through parliament.
Mr Chisholm says people should not pretend they back soft opt-out and not vote for the general principles of this bill.
The Labour MSP says 62% of the people in Scotland support soft opt-out and they will not forgive us lightly for not backing this bill.
Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm says he was happy to be in the minority of the committee that backs this bill.
Mr Chisholm says Scotland has the highest number of registered donors, but the lowest donation rate and the number of donations is decreasing while three people die a day waiting for a transplant.
Mr Gibson says this is a time for members to stand up and be counted.
The SNP MSP says he looks forward to this bill being voted on positively at decision time.
SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson says he will support the Transplantation Bill, which is not perfect, but in terms of what it is trying to do, it is a good bill.
There is applause from the Labour benches at this.
Mr Gibson says we must think about the 571 people on the organ transplant waiting list.
He says a soft opt-out system will mean more people available to deliver organs.
Dr Milne says there are a number of provisions that are counterproductive in increasing organ donations.
The use of proxies may alienate family members, she says.
Having to contact more than one proxy could lead to delays says the Conservative MSP.
Dr Milne says there were concerns about the role of the Authorised Investigating Person (AIP) proposed in the bill.
Conservative MSP Dr Nanette Milne says there were some high charged arguments during stage one.
Dr Milne say she fully expected to be recommending the bill to her Tory colleagues but after more scrutiny of she became concerned.
The Tory MSP says her son went through a liver transplant and he would not have been here without it.
She says it does not appear clear in other countries that donors increase as a result of this type of legislation and conversation with the families is always pivotal.
More can still be done in Scotland, she says.
BMA Scotland, which represents doctors, said it was disappointed by the committee's conclusions.
Dr Sue Robertson, a kidney doctor in Dumfries, said: "If properly implemented, with adequate resources and staff, and backed up by a high-profile publicity campaign, an opt-out system could save or transform peoples' lives. "
"All the time we waste now means that more lives will be lost."
Image source, Getty ImagesWales introduced an opt-out system in December of last year, following many European countries including Spain, France, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and Norway.
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant concludes saying the government can still change its mind and think of the 571 patients on the transplant waiting list.
The bill proposes a move to a "soft opt-out" system which would allow parts of a dead adult's body to be used in transplants in the absence of express permission.
It would still be possible for people to opt-in to organ donation, but the bill would also give adults the option of appointing someone to make a decision about authorisation on their behalf.
They would also be able to register in advance that they do not want their organs or tissue to be removed.
Scotland has increased the number of organ donations over the past decade, with 41% of people now on the Organ Donor Register.
However, there are still not enough donated organs to save the lives of everyone who needs a transplant.
Ms Grant says remember every member must answer for their own actions and she urges members not to "have this on your conscious".
The Labour MSP accuses the government of tabling a "senseless amendment" which appears to agree with the general principles of the bill, but says it does not agree with the general principles.
No amount of spurious excuses will justify voting down this bill says Ms Grant, people will die in the intervening period before the next government could bring forward new legislation she insists.
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant congratulates Anne McTaggart for bringing forward this bill which will save lives.
Ms Grant says no-one is suggesting the legislation is all that needs to be done.
When deciding on the Transplantation Bill, we need to put ourselves in the position of those on the organ donor waiting list.
Duncan McNeil says the majority of the committee were concerned about the role of the Authorised Investigating Person, proposed in the bill.
Irrespective of whether this bill is passed, the committee calls on the government to provide additional specialist nurses and consultants, as well as prioritising publicity and advertising he says.
The Health Committee convener stresses the whole committee agrees that more must be done to increase organ donation.
Mr McNeil says the majority of the committee were concerned about the proposal to allow three proxies to be appointed.
The Labour MSP says the principle of proxies was agreed to, however, for example in the case of looked-after people.
The Health Committee has said it does not support legislation aimed at introducing an "opt-out" organ donation system.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs after death currently has to "opt-in" through the donor card scheme.
Image source, AFPMany people still die while waiting for a transplant due to a lack of donors
The Transplantation Bill, external would see body parts automatically available for transplant unless the person objected during their lifetime.
The Health Committee, external said it backed the aim, but not the detail, of the bill.
The legislation was introduced as a members' bill by Scottish Labour MSP Anne McTaggart.
Health Committee convener Duncan McNeil says witnesses explained how transformative organ transplantation can be and how difficult the wait for an organ can be.
Mr McNeil says the majority of the committee will be pleased to see the government has taken on board its report and is starting a consultation, including soft opt-out in the next parliament.
He says the minority of the committee will be concerned about the delay for the 500 or more on the transplant waiting list.
The committee unanimously supports the aim to increase organ donation, but there was disagreement about whether this bill will achieve that aim.