Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor begins his valedictory speech, paying tribute to all the staff at the Scottish Parliament.

Mr McGrigor also pays tribute to his wife and family.

He says he remains concerned about some of the rhetoric from the Scottish government's supporters during the passage of the Land Reform Bill

Some need a reality check, he says. 

Independent MSP John Finnie says he comes from deepest rural Invernesshire.

Image source, bbc

Mr Finnie says people there wrestle with the idea anyone can own a deer or a salmon. 

SNP MSP Mike Russell says it is important to ensure SNH carry out their duties in relation to deer management.

Mr Russell pays tribute to Mr Fergusson who he says will be missed in the parliament.

Image source, bbc

He also praises RACCE Committee convener Rob Gibson.

The former education secretary says land reform must be taken forward now.

Mr Russell says there has been substantial good change today, but there is more to come.

The Land Reform bill includes: 

• create a register of people in control of land in Scotland.   
• Provisions to force land sales if owners block economic development 
• Plans to strengthen regulations where land owners are failing to take deer management seriously 
• Improvement to the systems of right to roam and common good land

Changes include: 

• Strengthening the commitment to public engagement 
• Changes to the way appointments to the proposed Land Commission are made 
• Stronger commitment to the Gaelic language in the commission

SNP MSP Graeme Dey pays tribute to the former presiding officer and farmer Alex Fergusson for his work on the RACCE Committee.

Mr Dey also pays tribute to Rob Gibson and Dave Thompson for their efforts on the committee.

He says the past nine months have been a journey for the Land Reform Bill.

The SNP MSP says his abiding memory was meeting tenant farmers who would not be photographed due to the fear of consequences.

He says until the right to buy issue is addressed, the agricultural sector will never truly be at peace.

Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume says his party have long been advocates of land reform in Scotland.

Mr Hume says it could have been made a more ambitious piece of legislation if there had been more time and it wasn't pushed through parliament.

The Lib Dem MSP says he has been five years on the RACCE Committee and all the MSPs on that committee have got on well. 

Mr Hume says he looks forward to supporting the bill at decision time.

Mr Thompson says his proudest moment was giving the SNP a majority of one in 2007, "little old me".

Former council official David Thompson was the last MSP to be elected, giving the SNP its one-seat lead over Labour..

Image source, Getty Images

The result came after he demanded a recount of the Highlands and Islands list ballot, which had given Labour four MSPs and the SNP none.

The final result saw Labour get three, the Tories two and the SNP two

SNP MSP Dave Thompson receives a warm introduction from the deputy presiding officer, ahead of his valedictory speech.

Mr Thompson says: "This is the single most important bill I have been involved with in my nine years as an MSP."

He says this bill would not have seen the light of day without the Scottish Parliament, as Westminster would have killed it stone dead.

Mr Thompson says the Land Commission will have to have at least one Gaelic speaker sitting on it.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont says this debate is very close to her heart. 

Ms Lamont pays tribute to Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod, who had to leave due to a throat infection, for all her work on this bill. 

The Labour MSP says it is a simple matter of justice for people who were cleared from their land. 

"This is an important day and I hope another step", she says. 

Ms Lamont says it is not just about rural areas but about urban areas too. 

Mr Gibson pays tribute to the 'heroic' Aileen Mcleod for her efforts in producing a "robust" Land Reform Bill.

The SNP MSP says the legislation will increase transparency and community involvement.

He says he fully supports the bill. 

Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee convener Rob Gibson pays tribute to Chris Nicholson the chair of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association.

Mr Gibson says Mr Nicholson is in the Gallery but likely to head off to Dumfries in a hurry where his wife will deliver a new member of the family.

The SNP MSP wishes Mr Nicholson all the best.

He says: "We too are trying to deliver a lusty child."

Alex Fergusson says he is not sorry to have spent the last 17 years of his life at the Scottish Parliament.

The Conservative MSP says being presiding officer was an honour and a privilege, almost as much so as representing his constituents. 

Mr Fergusson paraphrases the other Alex, Mr Salmond by saying:  "This is goodbye from me, not for now, but for good."

Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick pays a warm tribute to her predecessor in the Holyrood hotseat.

Mr Fergusson says he believes more time should have been spent in the next parliament coming to a consensus on the bill but instead "we are just ploughing ahead".

"I will take no pleasure in watching its death throes in my retirement", he says. 

The Tory MSP says he hopes he is wrong about the bill. 

Mr Fergusson says shooting businesses will now be at a competitive disadvantage due to this bill. 

Image source, Julien Gurney

The Conservative MSP says other businesses will also be hit adding: "This measure will hurt the wee man."  

Mr Fergusson says this should always have been two bills from the outset: 

• one on land reform
• and one on agricultural holdings

Conservative MSP Alex Fergusson rises to give his final speech in the chamber.

Mr Fergusson says he wishes his final speech was on a more consensual matter because he didn't want to end on a negative.

The Tory MSP says his party will not back the bill at decision time. 

The Labour MSP thanks Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod for her efforts and for talking to the RACCE committee.

Ms Boyack concludes thanking the raft of players who got in touch over the bill and says there have been huge disagreements.

She says there are a lot of aspirations hanging on this legislation and says we all want stronger, fairer communities that are more resilient.

"The next set of MSPs will have their work cut out for them."

Ms Boyack says there is much to celebrate today but there is a lot more work needing done in the next parliament.

She says the passage of this bill has not been good enough, extremely rushed and not as transparent as it should have been.