Labour MSP Claudia Beamish says her amendments require ministers to have regard for existing legislation on climate change, deer management and biodiversity when shaping the forestry strategy.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Peter Chapman speaks to his amendment 41 which he says will lead to measurable targets of tree planting.

SNP MSP Graeme Dey speaks to his amendments and encourages parliament to back all the amendments in the grup.

His colleague Fulton MacGregor says his amendment calls for the publication of a draft o the strategy.

The next grouping of amendments to be discussed relate to the forestry strategy.

Green MSP John Finnie argues it makes sense for the creation of woodland to sit within the strategy.

He also confirms the Greens' support for all the other amendments in the group.

Rural Affairs Secretary Ferus Ewing says he is confident that the majority of forestry in Scotland is sustainable.

Mr Ewing says speaks against Colin Smyth's amendment as he says it is not required.

He calls on Mr Smyth not to press the amendemnt.

Green MSP John Finnie says we should all sign up to a consistent approach and he says he backs Mr Smyth.

The Labour MSP presses his amendment and it is duly agreed to, 63for and 61 against.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth explains his next amendment is to promote sustainable forest management.

He says it reflects a unanimous recommendation made by the Rural Affairs Committee.

It will not place unreasonable demands on public bodies, he adds.

Image source, Scottish parliament

Image source, SP

33 MSPs backed Colin Smyth's amendment 29 but 91 voted against.

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

Image source, Scottish parliament

"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."

Parliament is suspended briefly for five minutes as this the first division for the vote on Labour MSP Colin Smyth's amendment.

Tory MSP Peter Chapman confirms he party will not support Mr Smith's amendment despite having sympathy with setting a purpose for the act.

He explains this is due to issues with interpreting the word 'sustainable'.

The Tory MSP also confirms his party will support the Scottish government's amendment 31.

Rural Secretary Fergus Ewing says while he is sympathetic to the reasoning behind the amendment, he cannot support it.

He explains this is because it can cause legal confusion is a purpose does not apply to every provision in the bill.

It brings potential risk to the interpretation and operation of the bill, Mr Ewing says.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth says his amendment is to ensure the bill is underpinned by clear principles.

He adds a purpose clause is not unique.

Image source, Thinkstock

MSPs will now consider amendments to the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill at stage 3.

This is the final amending stage of the bill, before a general debate on the final version starting at approximately 5pm.

The final vote on the Bill will happen at around 6.15pm.

Here are some useful links for this stage:

• The Bill as amended at stage 2, external
• Marshalled list of amendments, external
• Amendment groupings, external

Labour MSP James Kelly raises a point of order about the timetable for the urgent question and topical question.

Thats for the business managers and its not a point of order, says Deputy Presiding Officer Christine Grahame.

SNP MSP Fulton Macgregor seeks confirmation that no infections have occurred at QEU Hospital as a result of the incident.

There has been no infection of adults at the QEU, the health secretary says.

Tory MSP Annie Wells asks how patients will be reassured that the hospitals are fit for purpose.

Ms Robison says: "These hospitals are state of the art facilities."

They are not alone in having issues with bacteria, she says.

She says the focus is the safety of the children.

Labour MSP Anas Sarwar says parents have warned about a lack of water for nearly three weeks, preventing patients from washing.

He urges the cabinet secretary to investigate this further and to apologies to parents.

Shona Robison says she apologies for inconvenience experienced but says investigation of taps and other water sources must take place.

"Absolutely everything has been done to get to the bottom of this."

Mr Sarwar says the news of the contamination has caused considerable anxiety and anger.

The Scottish Labour health spokesperson says the issue has been running for three weeks.

He asks why it took a press enquiry to make the health board go public.

Image source, bbc

The health secretary says she undrstands the concern and says the health board has told her it is keeping the public informed, but she will follow this up.

Ms Robison says one of the bacteria is very, very rare indeed adding to the comlexity of the situation.

She says if the water testing is negative later today the hope is the water supply will be back tomorrow evening.