Labour MSP Colin Smyth says more can be done to maximise the economic benefits of forestry and this Bill is a step in the right direction.

He welcomes to opportunity to scrutinise the executive arrangements for forestry when they are brought forward by the Scottish government.

The success of the Bill will depend on ongoing work, the Labour MSP states.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Peter Chapman says he is pleased to see amenmdents from across the chamber passed today, which he believes will improve the Bill.

Mr Chapman says he is glad all forestry agencies will remain out of government and at arms length, thanks to Claudia Beamish's amendment.

He stresses the importance of cross-border tree health and planting targets.

The Tory MSP also welcomes the expulsion of the extension of the compulsory purchase powers.

"Today is an historic occasion," Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing begins.

This Bill completed the devolution of forestry which was started 19 years ago, he says.

Mr Ewing says the Bill modernises arrangements by setting out a requirement of a forestry strategy and promoting sustainable growth.

The cabinet secretary accepts the parliament agreed to establish two executive agencies, adding "we shall make every effort to make that approach work", particularly for staff.

A number of amendments have been passed at Stage 3, but this is still darn good reading.

The SPICe briefing on the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill, external includes the following executive summary:

Image source, SPICe

"The Bill transfers the powers and duties of the Forestry Commissioners in Scotland to Scottish Ministers. It provides Scottish Ministers with a duty to promote sustainable forest management and publish a forestry strategy.

"It transfers responsibility for plant health to Scottish Ministers so that responsibility for all plant health in Scotland will reside in one place.

"The Bill widens the provisions currently available for management of forestry land. It includes provisions on the management of land for sustainable development. The bill also sets out provisions for compulsory purchase and the delegation of management functions to community bodies.

"The regulatory regime for felling trees is updated and becomes the responsibility of Scottish Ministers.

"The Forestry Act 1967 is repealed for Scotland."

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Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani calls for some serious pruning of member's speeches by a full minute to allow everyone to contribute.

Decision time cannot be pushed back beyond 6.45pm, she says.

Image source, bbc

Image source, Nelson Lee

That's the amendments consideration done.

We now move to the final debate on the Forestry and Land Managment Bill, external, before the all important decision time at 6.45pm...ish.

Image source, Scottish parliament

MSPs have voted to instruct ministers to "establish a single agency or two agencies" to carry out forestry and land management functions.

The Scottish government wants two agencies, so there is still scope to do that - however they will be at arms length.

But opposition MSPs want the option of a single agency should it prove more appropriate.

Image source, bbc

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish presses amendment 39, providing for a single agency.

It's passed with 63 MSPs backing it and 61 against.

However it's amended by Labour MSP Colin Smyth's amendment pertaining to two agencies.

Image source, bbc

MSPs vote against SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson's amendment 39A relating to two agencies, with 61 MSPs backing it and 63 against.

39 D is agreed to.

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Mr Ewing says a single agency option would lead to disastrous consequences.

The rural economy secretary says he has warmly endorsed the establishment of a chief forester.

He says if parliament passes the relevant amendments the government would make a two agency approach work.

Green MSP John Finnie says his party will vote for Claudia Beamish's amendment calling for a single agency.

First on amendment 23, Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles says he is "astonished" that it seeks to remove the provision to appoint a chief forester.

"I thought that had all party support."

Mr Ewing explains the amendment has been lodged because there was advice that the matter was ultra vires but this has since been agreed to not be an issue.

The cabinet secretary confirms he will not be moving the amendment.

Mr Rumbles welcomes this.

Turning to amendment 39, the Lib Dem MSP says it will "shift and lift the UK Forestry Commission into Scotland".

"I couldn't understand why the Scottish goverment wants to centralise control over this and make them civil servants."

Mr Rumbles notes the opposition are united on this matter.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says his party will vote against the cabinet secretary's amendments 33 and 36.

Mr Greene says the head of the division should be treated as chief forester.

He says his party will support Claudia Beamish's amendments 2 and 2A which would mean minister's would have to justify changes to Forestry Commission functions.

Ms Beamish's amendment 39 has been the most controversial, says Mr Greene, who says his party will support it.

He says its purpose is to address fears around the loss of expertise and branding.

In resoponse to an intervention by SNP MSP Gail Ross, who cites forestry experts, the Tory MSP says creating a new body will not be a disaster.

SNP MSP Gail Ross says her amendments 2A and 40 seek to bring forward recommendations made by the Rural Affairs Committee at stage one.

Briefly on amendment 39, Ms Ross argues a single agency would bring more uncertainty to the whole structure of forestry.

She recognises concerns about a lack of scrutiny of any future changes to the structures made by ministers and argues section 4 of amendment 40 would mean a report must be created.

So it looks like decision time will now be at 6.45pm.

Green MSP Andy Wightman says the bill is deficient because it completes devolution but at the same time allows the Forestry Commission to "fall back into the hands of Scottish Ministers".

Parliament, not government, should determine the governance of the land management by the Forestry Commission, he says.

His amendment 39C would ensure the governance, duties, powers and structures remain into statutory scrutiny by this parliament, Mr Wightman explains.