Labour MSP Jenny Marra says the Labour party will be supporting the general principles of the bill at decision time.

Ms Marra says the last legislation on burial and cremation was in 1855 and it is overdue for renewal.

The Labour MSP says just last year the tragic story of Ciaran Williamson, who was crushed and killed by a gravestone in Craigton Cemetery, emerged.

She says gravestones are starting to crumble and fall across Scotland and the bill can help better manage burial grounds. 

There are a number of cases of children being hurt by old gravestones and this must be addressed.

The Local Government Committee convener Kevin Stewart raises concerns about the cost of funerals, which could be addressed by licensing. 

Local Government Committee, external convener Kevin Stewart says the committee backs the general principles of the bill.

Mr Stewart quotes Benjamin Franklin saying: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

Yet, he adds,  there was a lack of engagement with this bill which the committee felt was due to the lack of detail in the bill.

He says the package of measures in the bill could be improved with "the swift introduction of licensing". 

In January bereaved parents are calling for undertakers to be regulated and licensed nationally following the baby ashes scandal. 

Giving evidence to the Health Committee, they called for funeral directors to be inspected and held to account for their actions. 

Willie Reid, 50, from Bathgate who lost his daughter Donna at two days old and Ann McMurray from Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity Scotland (SANDS) gave evidence to the committee. 

Mr McNeil says the committee welcomes the policy intention of the bill but it must be strengthened to ensure previous poor practices never happen again.

Mr McNeil says the purpose of the bill is the creation of a clear definition of ashes. 

He says he agrees with the definition in the bill.

The Labour MSP says there were concerns about the definition of cremation in the bill. 

The Health Committee convener says it is essential that women who lose a baby or a pregnancy choose the timescale for decision making. 

The Scottish government bill was introduced in response to baby ashes scandals. 

The Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Bill will require authorities to retain details of both burials and cremations. 

A legal definition of ashes will be introduced in a bid to prevent any future incidents like those at Mortonhall crematorium. 

Image source, PA

The legislation was brought forward after it emerged that staff at Mortonhall in Edinburgh had secretly buried the ashes of babies for decades without their parents' knowledge.

Parents were told that there were no ashes left when young babies were cremated, with more than 250 families affected in what a damning report termed a "great tragedy".

Further cases were reported in Aberdeen, Fife and Glasgow.

New legislation was recommended by Lord Bonomy's Infant Cremation Commission.

Health Committee, external convener Duncan McNeil thanks the parents who generously shared their difficult experiences of losing a baby or a pregnancy with the committee

The loss of a baby is one of the most heartbreaking things that can ever happen to parent he says.

The bereaved parents sent a very clear message this bill must ensure the poor practice of the past must never happen again, says Mr McNeil.

He says the committee called for strengthening of the bill and he welcomes the minister's commitment to bringing forward amendments.

New legislation on cremations must be strengthened to ensure the baby ashes scandal is never repeated, MSPs have said. 

Holyrood's Health and Sport Committee has backed the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Bill. But it called for a number of clarifications and changes. 

The bill was brought forward in response to the scandal at Mortonhall crematorium in Edinburgh. 

It emerged that staff at the crematorium had secretly buried the ashes of babies for decades without their parents' knowledge. 

Further cases were reported in Aberdeen, Fife and Glasgow. 

The legislation will introduce a legal definition of "ashes" and require authorities to keep details of burials and cremations indefinitely. 

Ms Watt says she has accepted many recommendations of the Local Government and Delegated Powers Committees.

The minister says the bill sets out the inspection function and she will bring forward an amendment to improve this.

She says there is a collective view that the proposed licensing scheme for funeral directors should be put in the bill, but she disagrees with that.

This will be proscribed in regulations says the minister.

She says there is not enough evidence that licensing is required. 

The Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Bill "lacks detail and ambition", MSPs on the Local Government Committee have said. 

New rules to regulate burials and cremations were proposed in the wake of the baby ashes scandal. 

The bill would set out a legal definition of ashes and require that authorities retain details of burials. 

MSPs said the bill risked being a "missed opportunity" unless a licensing scheme for undertakers was included.

The legislation aims to update the existing set of rules over services, which date back over 100 years. 

It was introduced following a scandals uncovered in Mortonhall, Edinburgh, as well as Aberdeen, Fife and Glasgow, where babies ashes were disposed of without parents being informed. 

Bereaved parents addressed the Health Committee during scrutiny of the bill, calling for funeral directors to be inspected and held to account by the government. 

Public Health Minister Maureen Watt says she disagrees with the Local Government Committee which said the bill is unambitious. 

Ms Watt says this bill will affect us all at some time.

She says the steps taken in this bill will ensure failings which happened in the baby ashes scandal can never happen again.

With the loss of a baby, the bill will put the mother at the centre of the decision making process says the minister. 

MSPs debate the Burial and Cremation (Scotland) Bill, external for the first time, before being asked to agree to its general principles at decision time. 

The minister says Community Justice Scotland will have a crucial role in terms of giving confidence to the judiciary and the public, in community justice.

Image source, Thinkstock

Mr Wheelhouse says if he is fortunate enough to have a role after the election he will do all he can to ensure a smooth transition. 

He concludes by urging parliament to support the bill and reduce future offending and make our communities safer. 

Community Justice Minister Paul Wheelhouse thanks the members for their work on improving this bill.

Mr Wheelhouse says the bill has profound implications for the delivery of justice in Scotland. 

The minister says the first community justice plans will be prepared by the partnerships (CPJs by next January).

Transitional funding of £1.6m was split equally across the 32 CJPs he says.

Labour MSP Graeme Pearson praise the Community Justice Minister Paul Wheelhouse for working with the parliament and commends that approach to the rest of the government.

Mr Pearson says the experience of reforming emergency services tells us there must be a lot of scrutiny by ministers at the implementation of the bill.

The public must see an alternative to custodial sentences work, he says.

The former senior policeman says it is vital that the third sector is able to play its part.

The sector must be offered the support they need, as organisations like Victim Support, external and Scottish Women's Aid, external have to spend to much time chasing funding.

Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell says it is a missed opportunity to lose her amendment.

Ms Mitchell says the government have rejected the opportunity for a holistic approach.

The Conservative MSP says it will be incumbent on the next government to closely monitor the bill's impact. 

She concludes saying the Scottish Conservatives will support the bill at decision time. 

In 2012 the former Lord Advocate Dame Eilish Angiolini, made a series of radical proposals to improve the way women offenders are treated.

They included the replacement of Scotland's only women's prison, Cornton Vale near Stirling.

The Angiolini Commission, external highlighted the fact that the vast majority of female offenders have drug, alcohol or mental health problems - making prison an unsuitable place for them to be sent.

The commission urged judges to impose combined custodial and community sentences. 

Today it emerged the closure of Scotland's only female prison will begin this summer, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson has confirmed.

More than half of the inmates at HMP Cornton Vale in Stirling will be relocated to HMP Polmont, near Falkirk, later this year.

SNP MSP Gil Paterson says this new model of community justice provides the right balance of strong national leadership and local flexibility in planning.

Image source, bbc

Mr Paterson says local Community Justice Partners can seek support and advice from Community Justice Scotland. 

Lib Dem MSP Alison Mcinnes says she was concerned about the setting up of a national community justice service.

Ms McInnes says during the passage of the bill the minister has addressed some of the issues that concerned her.

Image source, bbc

The Lib Dem MSP says she hopes Community Justice Scotland holds the key to unlocking greater confidence in community justice.

She says well resourced and well structured programmes will reduce reoffending, far better than short prison sentences.