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MSPs agree the general principles of the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill, external.

107 MSPs backed it, one MSP voted against and there were two abstentions.

The legislation, if passed, will shift Scotland to a soft "opt-out" system for organ donation.

Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick says the ongoing process of culture change is important in increasing donations and introducing soft opt-out alone is not enough.

Mr Fitzpatrick hopes the process of the bill will have led to more discussions about organ donation.

He too praises the work of the specialist nurses who he says do a fantastic job.

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Mr Fitzpatrick insists this bill is about the rights and views of the person who is donating the organs.

Authorisation is for the person who is making the donation, but it is a very difficult time for the family and the current system deals with this in a sensitive way, which will continue, he says.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle highlights that only 1% of potential donors end up being suitable and people die while on the waiting list.

This is why this bill is so important, he adds.

Mr Whittle reiterates calls to look at the capacity of intensive care units to be able to take in more donors.

We should be ensuring the opportunity to make a stated position on donation is as widely accessible as possible, he states.

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Labour MSP David Stewart says, as we've heard from all the speakers, this is crucial legislation.

Mr Stewart notes Scotland has highest level of people on the organ donor register in the UK, but the lowest rate of donations.

He says the evidence the health committee heard backs a soft opt-out system.

Mr Stewart says there must also be an increase in the number of intensive care beds to accommodate patients who receive a donation.

Tory MSP Tom Mason says he believes the proposal to bring in an opt-out system would be welcomed by the majority of people in Scotland.

Whilst acknowledging concerns that the bill will not increase the number of transplants, he points to increases in public education of organ donation.

Mr Mason tells the chamber of a constituent who required a kidney transplant and was successfully matched with a donor in 2016, allowing life to return to normal.

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Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles expresses concerns about section 7 of the bill.

Mr Rumbles say it says the deemed authorisation in section 7 does not apply if a person supplies evidence to a health worker that would convince a reasonable person that the adult was unwilling for the transplant to take place.

He asks why evidence has been put in instead of knowledge.

The family of the deceased now have to provide evidence he explains and adds the bill is silent on what type of evidence would be required.

"We have to get the wording right," he says.

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Labour MSP Mark Griffin says this bill is an important piece of legislation and has his backing.

Mr Griffin reminds the chamber that he lodged a member's bill with the same proposal but welcomes this bill here today.

He tells the chamber the story of his father who died at the age of 47 years old.

Francis Griffin died in 2007 days after a heart operation following a 10-year wait for an organ transplant.

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SNP MSP Emma Harper, who is a nurse, has worked on transplants and indeed tells the chamber she carried a heart from one surgical team to the waiting transplant team.

It was an awesome experience to be able to see an organ transplanted into another person, she says.

"All of my family are on the organ donation register and my staff too."

"Donors could be called superheroes because they have the power to save so many lives."

She calls for education and the raising of awareness, particularly in ethnic minority communities.

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More than half of Scotland's population have registered to donate their organs or tissue after their death - the highest rate in Britain.

Figures show that more than 2,724,000 Scottish residents are registered on the UK Organ Donor Register.

Approximately 550 people in Scotland are waiting for an organ transplant, which could save or transform their lives.

The rise in donors comes after high-profile annual awareness campaigns.

On 4 July there were 2,724,358 people in Scotland on the UK Organ Donor Register - 50.4% of the population.

The UK average on 31 March was 38%.

Read more here.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says he is delighted to offer his full-throated support to this bill today.

He tells the chamber of a childhood friend, Anders, who had cystic fibrosis and sadly passed away in his 30s.

It is for this reason I welcome the efforts of organ donation campaigners, Mr Cole-Hamilton says.

He suggests there needs to be an amendment to ensure the duty to inquire does not become a barrier to donation.

The Lib Dem MSP also calls for mental health support for people on the waiting list, as being called in for a transplant and feeling that you are waiting for someone to die can take its toll.

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Families whose lives have been changed through organ donation are calling for more people to join the register.

NHS Grampian has revealed 16 people in the region donated their organs this year.

It reflects the small percentage of people who die in circumstances where it is even possible to donate.

Successful recipients of live-saving organs as well as relatives of people who died and donated organs are appealing for more people to sign up, external.

Read more here.

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Green MSP Alison Johnstone reminds the chamber 500 people remain on the donor list and 40-60 will die.

Ms Johnstone says the evidence suggests an opt-out deemed authorisation system, as part of a package of measures, will increase the number of donors.

She says if the bill reduces the high number of refusals by families then it will be very positive.

The Green MSP asks how the government will fulfill its duty, set out in the bill, to raise awareness of organ donation.

The bill will need to be implemented with care and the appropriate safeguards, but she says the Greens support the general principles of it, he says.

Ms Lennon highlights how dialysis can be highly disruptive to people's lives and therefore how kidney transplants can be transformative.

The bill must be backed by "clear and consistent messaging" across Scotland, she adds.

The importance of public awareness and conversations is brought into stark reality by the number of families that prevent a person becoming a donor, the Labour MSP states.

She confirms her party will support this bill and will work with the government to improve it through amendments.

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Labour MSP Monica Lennon says her party supports the general principles of this bill and has long been supportive of a soft-opt out system.

Ms Lennon praises the work of colleague Mark Griffin and former colleague Anne McTaggart.

She says: "I'm pleased there is public support for a soft opt-out system."

People can still opt-in or out if they wish, she adds.

Ms Lennon tells the chamber she has been reassured there are appropriate and robust safeguards.

The role of the donor's family will be central to the success of this bill, Mr Briggs states.

He pays tribute to the work of Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation (SNOD) team.

The Tory MSP says there needs to be commitments around intensive care beds and improving transplant infrastructure, if the bill will increase the number of donations.

The Scottish Conservatives welcome the bill, he says, but he urges the Scottish government to ensure the appropriate information and infrastructure is available.