Legislation aimed at integrating railway policing into Police Scotland passed its first Holyrood vote in May.

The Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill is the first step towards the national force taking on the responsibilities of British Transport Police in Scotland.

Members of the Justice Committee also endorsed the bill, although they were split on the final recommendation.

MSPs agreed to the general principles of the legislation by 66 votes to 44, with backing from Greens and Lib Dems.

The Conservatives and Labour both argued against the merger, citing concerns raised by BTP and unions, while the Lib Dems indicated they would seek to make amendments to the bill at committee stage.

The Scottish government has long wanted to integrate railway policing services into the single national force, and tabled a bill to that end in December 2016.

The Railway Policing (Scotland) Bill, external would confer extra powers on the Scottish Police Authority and the Police Service of Scotland, but further legislation would be needed at Holyrood and Westminster to transfer staff, properties and cross-border policing functions.

Read more here.

MSPs will now debate the Railway Policing Scotland Bill at Stage 3.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles moves amendment 7 calling for a dealy to the legislation.

The amendment is rejected with 53 MSPs backing it and 66 against.

The chief constable of British Transport Police warned plans for a merger with Police Scotland could lead to a loss of specialist skills in March.

Paul Crowther told Holyrood's Justice Committee of a "real challenge" in replacing officers amid a "significant outflow of expertise".

He told MSPs of the bomb threats, fatalities and near-death incidents officers often have to deal with.

Police Scotland has called the merger plan "complex but not insurmountable".

Read more here.

Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins told the Justice Committee on 7 March 2017 there was a "risk that the skill base will be diluted", but added that "it's my job to make sure that doesn't happen".

He said railway training will eventually form part of the basic training for all Police Scotland officers, saying this would result in "17,000 officers with the skills to operate within the railway environment", alongside a smaller number with "bespoke" specialist skills.

Mr Higgins said that while officers could "potentially" be redeployed in the case of a major incident, there would "absolutely" be a specialist transport policing unit and those transferring in from BTP would have the right to remain policing only the railways until they retire.

Meanwhile, committee convener Margaret Mitchell pointed out that railway policing officers elsewhere in the UK are trained to carry tasers, while in Scotland only specialist firearms officers are armed with them.

Mr Higgins said he would have to "assess the threat within the wider rail network" to see if it was "appropriate" to continue to allow railway policing staff in Scotland to carry tasers after the merger, while finding "the best way to mitigate threat".

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf rises to express strong opposition to the Lib Dem amendment calling for a delay.

Mr Yousaf says ACC Higgins said the target date was a luxury.

Labour MSP Claire Baker says there are serious concerns about the timing of this legislation.

SNP MSP Mairi Evans says the Lib Dem amendment is a wrecking amendment.

Ms Evans says there are literally dozens of rural stations covered by only 28 officers on a rotational basis.

She says policing of railway incidents north of Perth are covered by Police Scotland.

Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell says the ten year delay would allow the Scottish government listen to the opposition to the Bill from nearly every stakeholder.

Ms Mitchell welcomes the amendment's proposal.

She says given recent terrorist attacks this is not the time to rush through this legislation.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles speaks to amendment 7 in the name of Liam McArthur.

Mr Rumbles accuses the Scottish government of a "gung-ho attitude" to this legislation.

The Lib Dem MSP says this is the "wrong move, at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons".

Mr Rumbles says the amendment calls for a ten year delay which he says is in the interests of the police and the travelling public.

MSPs reject Neil Bibby's amendment calling for an independent review of the Bill with 53 MSPs backing it and 65 against.

Labour MSP Neil Bibby says trade unions have described the Bill as being ideologically driven.

Mr Bibby says police officers are warning the break up may not be safe and he says that is why he is calling for an independent review.

He moves amendment 6.

The minister says the government cannot support the Labour amendment.

Mr Yousaf says it is open to parliament to conduct post-legislative scrutiny if it chooses to do so.

Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell says the amendment has the full support of the Scottish Conservatives.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles accuses the Greens of "slavish support" to the SNP to get this Bill through.

This leads to quite the brouhaha in the chamber.

Mr Rumbles carries on saying there should be an obligation on the government to review the legislation.

We now move to the group of amendments on review.

Labour MSP Neil Bibby speaks to his amendment 6.

Mr Bibby says the majority or respondents opposed this bill as did the stakeholders.

He says his amendment, which calls for a review, is a safeguard as the Bill is a "rushed, reckless and irresponsible piece of legislation".

MSPs vote on amendment 2 from Labour's Neil Bibby, with 53 voting for it and 66 voting against and the amendent is not agreed.

MSPs then vote on amendment 3 which is unanimously agreed to.

The minister's amendment 8 is agreed to unanimously.

Amendment 4 is not moved by Neil Bibby.

The minister's amendment 9 is unanimously agreed to.

Mr Bibby's amendment 5 is rejected.