SNP MSP Sandra White asks the Scottish government what response it has received from the UK government to the concerns that it has raised regarding people from Scotland being blocked from returning from overseas visits due to the United States imposing a travel ban.

MSPs will now ask this week's topical questions.

This week's time for reflection will be delivered by Mr Ron McLaren, Chair, Humanism in Scotland. 

This afternoon we begin with this week's topical questions as the US travel ban is raised. 

This will be followed by a ministerial statement giving the Scottish government's response to the independent review into Bailey Gwynne's death.

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The Scottish government will then lead a debate entitled: 'Celebrating Our Past: Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology'.

After decision time, SNP MSP Graeme Dey will lead this evening's member's debate on Scotland's veterans. 

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Labour MSP Mark Griffin says the committee has to make a decision about the requirement for a consultation in a certain timescale .

Mr Griffin says he thinks it has to tell him by December recess.

The SNP's Tom Arthur notes that the bill was only put forward just before Christmas which has left only a matter of weeks for consideration before it would reach its next legislative stages.

He asks why Mr Griffin did not choose to wait until the Scottish government's consultation was published which would have given the bill a whole array of information to support it.

Mark Griffin says that he wanted to lodge a proposal as soon as possible, but felt it was best to sit down with the government first and so he put in a call with the minister to see what the lie of the land was and if they could work together.

He tells the committee that he didn't get the meeting until November.

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More organs are being donated and more lives saved a year after Wales became the only nation in the UK to introduce a new donation law, say ministers.

Adults are regarded as having allowed organ donation unless they have opted out.

In the last year, there have been 160 organs transplanted and 39 were through deemed consent.

Wales' Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said numbers were encouraging and the change had been "good news".

In 2016, up to September, there were 42 deceased organ donors, broadly in line with previous years.

A woman who had a double-lung transplant last Christmas has written an emotional thank-you letter to her donor's family - as Wales marks the anniversary of a major new law.

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Tory MSP Miles Briggs asks if he feels there has been any delay by the government on this.

Mr Briggs says Mr Griffin has yet to receive assurances a bill will be forthcoming.

The Labour MSP says the government is "taking the time to get it right" and he hopes it will bring forward good strong proposals on a soft opt-out.

He says the minister has a presumption of bringing forward strong legislation. 

SNP MSP Tom Arthur asks if Mr Griffin can categorically guarantee that he will not lodge his bill until the government has completed its consultation.

Mr Griffin says:"100%".

Mr Arthur asks if the government consultation shows an opt-out did not increase donations would Mr Griffin go ahead with his bill.

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The Labour MSP says he believes an opt-out organ donation system will save lives.

He says he will agree and disagree with some of the consultation's response.

Mr Arthur says it seems Mr Griffin is prejudging the government's consultation. 

Mr Griffin says he has a view on this and he will still be of the opinion this legislation is needed and every consultation on member's bills in the history of the parliament has been prejudged.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks if the proposal is rejected today by the committee, would MSPs in effect be asking for a fourth consultation. 

Mr Griffin says this is correct and that if the proposal is rejected he would have two months to go out to consultation and go through the normal members' bill procedure; adding that by then the government's consultation would have already been published.  

Ms Johnstone says that she feels this would run the risk of duplication and a delay to progress.

She also reminds the committee that the Scottish government has said it intends to bring forward legislation subject to the outcome of its consultation - saying that there is therefore no guarantee.

For guaranteed progress we should support your proposal today, she says.

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Mr Griffin says his proposal is the same as Anne McTaggart's, so another consultation would just emulate the former Labour MSP's.

SNP MSP Clare Haughey says there have been advances in technology in transplantation since Ms McTagaggart's consultation and would new questions be needed. 

Mr Griffin says the one line proposal is the same as Ms McTaggart's proposal but the bills might not be the same and he will take advice on this. 

Ms Haughey says: "This is something that we have to get right."

In 2014 the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland and British Medical Association commissioned a poll on this issue which found that nearly six in 10 (57%) of the 1,001 adults polled, said that they were in favour of a move to an opt-out transplant system with safeguards. 

A further poll commissioned by BHF Scotland in 2015 found that 62% of the Scottish population was in favour of an opt-out system.   

Image source, SPL

The Scottish Government launched a consultation on 7 December 2016, ‘Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation – A consultation on increasing numbers of successful donations’ which will run until 14 March 2017. 

The consultation has been launched to seek views on ways in which the number of organ and tissue donations in Scotland can be increased. 

The option of a workable ‘opt out’ system is included in the consultation.   

Mr Griffin calls on the committee to say it is satisfied that there is no need for a consultation on his draft proposal

SNP MSP Richard Lyle says that the Scottish government gave a commitment that they would bring forward a bill on organ donations during this session of parliament.

"Why did you feel that you have to pick it up?" he asks. 

He says that everyone wants this measure to become law, but says that the previous bill brought forward by Anne McTaggart was flawed and that's why he didn't vote for it.

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Mr Griffin says if the government tables an opt-out organ donation that would be fantastic and he would drop his bill.

The Labour MSP says his bill is just in case the government does not take that route and is a back up.

Last September Mark Griffin MSP urged people across Scotland to consider signing up as organ donors.

Mr Griffin, who has reintroduced a proposal for a  Members' Bill changing the law to a 'soft opt out' system of organ donation, highlighted that lives are lost because of a lack of donors across the country.

Image source, THinkstock

Mr Griffin has also welcomed the work being undertaken by North Lanarkshire Council, which will host the British Transplant Games in 2017, in highlighting the importance of organ donation.

He said: "More than 400 people in Scotland had their lives changed from organ transplants last year, however close to 550 people with life-threatening illnesses are still on the Transplant Waiting List. People are needlessly dying because of the lack of available organs for transplant."

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SNP MSP Richard Lyle says he was a good friend of Mr Griffin's dad and went through the same pain with his loss.

Mr Lyle ask if Mr Griffin knew there was to be a consultation from the government on this when he lodged his bill.

Mr Griffin says he did know when he lodged his bill last December.

He says if the government does not go for an opt-out then he will be ready to "pick up the ball". 

Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says he feels that anything that delays legislation on this matter "will be measured in human lives" and so therfore offers his full support for Mr Griffin's proposals.

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says no-one can fail to have been moved by Mr Griffin's personal testimony.

He asks about the consultations that have already taken place.

Mr Griffin says Anne McTaggart's consultation and the Scottish government's forthcoming consultation mean another one would be unproductive.

Mark Griffin is speaking about his reasons for not holding a consultation on the issue of organ transplants, saying that there is already a wealth of research and consultation in this area.

He argues that another consultation won't add anything new and might even be detrimental.

There have been three consultations in three years, he says, saying "I really don't see the need to have a fourth consultation of my own".