Scottish Labour MSP Johann Lamont speaks to her amendment relating to the Land Commission and community engagement.

Ms Lamont says her amendment asks the land commissioners to raise the issue of community benefit.

MSPs unanimously back the amendments relating to human rights. 

Stage 3 SPICe summary, external

"The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill , externalwas introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 22 June 2015.

"Stage 2 of the Bill took place at four meetings of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee between 20 January and 10 February 2016, where the Committee considered over 300 amendments."

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"Significant amendments include a change in approach to Part 3 – Information About the Control of Land, where the government is expected to bring forward broad regulation making powers at Stage 3 which will provide for the creation of a public register which requires the disclosure of information about persons who control land."  

Image source, Getty Images

"A significant change was also made to Part 10 of the Bill in relation to farm tenancies. 

"As introduced the Bill provided a regulation making power for Scottish Ministers to allow 1991 Act tenancies to be converted into the new form of Minimum Limited Duration Tenancy, also created by Part 10."

"Government amendments passed during Stage 2 would now allow a 1991 Act tenant to sell or assign their tenancy to an individual who is either a “new entrant” or “progressing in farming”1 having first given the landlord the opportunity to buy the lease back at a price fixed by an independent valuation.

"The tenancy would remain a 1991 Act tenancy, with the same rights e.g. of security of tenure. 

"Other changes include specifying the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests as relevant human rights that Ministers must have regard to."

Landowners are calling on the Scottish government to make a last-minute change to "flawed" land reform proposals.

Scottish Land and Estates said giving some farmers more flexibility over who they passed their tenancy onto would damage the industry.

Tenant farmers have welcomed new proposals in the Land Reform Bill which will be passed on Wednesday.

Image source, Thinkstock

Ministers said they wanted to fairly balance the rights of tenants and landlords.

In the bill, there are new rules over who can take over tenancies issued under the 1991 Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act.

Farmers will be able to sell or pass on tenancies to a much wider range of relatives. The legislation has been designed to help new entrants to the industry and make it easier for farmers to plan their retirement.

Scottish Land and Estates, which represents landowners, said it was making an "11th hour plea" to ministers for the plans to be changed.

Ms Boyack says community rights need to sit alongside our rights as individuals and she says she welcomes the government amendments. 

The minister now speaks to her amendments relating to human rights.

Ms McLeod says the amendments ensure the government is taking a robust approach to the interpretation of human rights in the bill.

The minister stops due to her throat infection and Legal Affairs Minister Paul Wheelhouse steps into the breach.

Ms McLeod speaks to amendment relating to land rights and responsibilities and says she will back Labour MSP Sarah Boyack's amendments in this group.

Ms Boyack welcomes this and hopes more of her amendments will be agreed to later.

This is met with an enigmatic smile from the land reform minister.

The government amendment is duly passed.

Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod, sounding very poorly, apologises for having a throat infection and says her ministerial colleague Paul Wheelhouse will help her through this marathon session. 

MSPs are set to vote on a bill reforming land management after a day of debate at the Scottish Parliament.

The Land Reform Bill, which will create a register of people in control of land in Scotland, has been heavily amended while passing through Holyrood.

The bill is to be debated throughout much of the day in the chamber.

Image source, Iain Maclean

A new Scottish Land Fund is also to be opened, with Land Reform Minister Aileen McLeod saying there could be a "new dawn" on land management.

The legislation includes provisions to create a register of people in charge of land, provisions to force land sales if owners block economic development, setting up a Land Commission, and plans to improve the systems of right to roam and common good land.

MSPs had said it needed "more work" to deliver truly radical reform, while SNP conference delegates last year backed making it more "robust".

A lengthy debate on the bill is expected, with more than 100 amendments to be discussed.

MSPs now debate and vote on amendments to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, external.

Mr Swinney concludes by saying he agrees with Jackie Baillie that there should be "no limit to the ambitions of this parliament".

"That is beautiful music to my ears."

The deputy first minister asks parliament to endorse the LCM in his name.

Now Mr Swinney pays warm tribute to Duncan McNeil and Alex Salmond. 

The deputy first minister says Mr Salmond has made an "astonishing contribution to the national life of Scotland". 

He says there is nobody more trenchant, supportive and a better ally than Mr Salmond.

Mr Swinney now pays warm tribute to Annabel Goldie and says he will resist the calls from his colleagues to make a reference to underwear.

This follows Ms Goldie's earlier comment that Holyrood's powers had previously had a "corset constraining them".

Deputy First Minister John Swinney says this whole process proves the parliament has a very effective committee system that should be respected.

Mr Swinney thanks Labour MSP Malcolm Chisholm for his insight on the block grant adjustment, saying his commentary has enabled the building of unity across Scotland on the issue.

Ms Baillie says: "With these new powers comes new responsibilities."

She says with the new powers comes the need for new scrutiny, which is why she is pleased Mr Swinney changed his mind about the Scottish Fiscal Commission making forecasts.

The Labour MSP: "This is now about how we use these new powers."

This leads to a brief summary of the Scottish Labour manifesto and Ms Baillie goes on to say "there should be no limit to our ambition".

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie also begins by paying tribute to the departing stalwarts of Holyrood, Duncan McNeil, Annabel Goldie and Alex Salmond.

She says Holyrood will be less noisy without them. 

Mr Johnstone says the "fiscal framework has delivered a good deal for Scotland".

He says Scotland will be better off than under any form of fiscal autonomy and certainly than under independence.

"So Scotland has got a good deal and the UK government has delivered on its promise."

Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone joins other MSPs in paying tribute to Annabel Goldie, Duncan McNeil and Alex Salmond.

Mr Johnstone refers to Mr Salmond saying "Goodbye from me...... for now" and suggests he is the Muhammed Ali of Scottish politics.

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan says the Scotland Bill does not deliver the spirit and substance of the Smith Commission.