Image source, bbc

Health committee convener Lewis Macdonald says the committee heard impressive evidence from specialist nurses about how the organ donations system work.

Despite that Scotland has the highest rate of families saying no to organ donation, he says.

Passing this bill can help increase rates of donation but on its own it will not be enough, adds Mr Macdonald.

He concludes that if parliament needs to return to this issue it must not hesitate to do so.

SNP MSP Emma Harper says only 1% of people die in circumstances where they could be a donor.

She welcomes the commitment to awareness raising activity in response to concerns that not enough people will know about the change.

"I urge all to vote in favour of the bill this evening."

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Lib Dem MSP Alex-Cole Hamilton says the brevity of the amendments stage speaks to the consensus that has grown around this bill.

Mr Cole-Hamilton also praises Anne McTaggart and Mark Griffin for all their efforts.

MSPs voted by 59 to 56 to reject taking forward former Labour MSP Anne McTaggart's Transplantation Bill, external back in 2016, when the government pledged to consider bringing forward legislation for an "opt-out" system.

He says it is a great sadness that his good friend, Anders Gibson who had cystic fibrosis, did not live to see this day adding he speaks in his memory today.

The Lib Dem MSP salutes the work of Give a Kidney UK, external and adds calls for mental health support given to those waiting for transplant to be looked at.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone begins by praising everyone who has campaigned for this change over the years, adding her party strong supports the bill.

Scotland does well in terms of donor registration but there is a persistent gap between this figure and the number of people who support donation, she adds.

Family approval for organ donation often stands in the way of donation says the Green MSP, but she says this bill will hopefully see family consent increase.

She urges the Scottish government to continue to raise awareness of opting in, saying this is the best option as it means donors have explicitly consented.

Image source, Getty Images

A shift to an "opt-out" system for organ donation was backed by MSPs on Holyrood's health committee.

They expressed support for the bill which would see a major change to the system in Scotland.

At present, people must "opt in" by registering to donate their organs for transplants after they die.

Under the bill before the Scottish Parliament, it will be assumed people were in favour of donation unless they have stated otherwise.

The Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill will now be considered by the full parliament.

• Does an opt-out system increase transplants?

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David Stewart says he is glad to see Scotland is finally moving towards a soft opt-out option.

Mr Stewart pays tribute to fellow Scottish Labour Party members Anne McTaggart and Mark Griffin for their efforts to getting us where we are today.

He says: "We must learn from the experience of implementation in Wales."

The Labour MSP says this bill will not be the only measure needed to increase organ donations, calling for improvements in the donations infrastructure.

The key issue is the gap between those who support organ donation and those who actually sign up as a donor, and the purpose of the bill is to bridge the divide he says.

Mr Stewart calls for more intensive care beds to be brought in and goes on to say this legislation will be a matter of life and death for many Scots.

Mr Briggs calls for further details on staffing for intensive care beds and seeks assurances this will be kept under review.

We need to work to continue to progress donor numbers he states.

I believe the bill will do this as the same time as honouring the wishes of donors, he tells the chamber.

The Tory MSP says no piece of legislation will be an important nor have such a huge human impact as the bill before us today.

Tory MSP Miles Briggs says this bill will start a national conversation on organ donation.

Key to its success will be the experiences of families and friends, which must be used to shape the approach going forward he says.

He highlights Wales has seen an increase in the number of families consenting to donation since the introduction of the opt-out system in 2015.

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Mr Fitzpatrick details the information campaign the government will undertake in conjunction with the bill.

It will be multimedia and include direct mailing of leaflets that will explain how to opt-out and the new system, he says.

The minister also details work with Kidney Research UK to raise awareness going forward.

He thanks all the medical experts in the NHS for their help in developing this bill.

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The minister says Gordon Hutchison featured as part of the donation campaign for the last six years.

Since his transplant as a child Gordon has gone on to live a full life and he has said "my organ donor has saved my life".

He concludes: "Presiding officer, for the many people awaiting a life-changing transplantation operation I move that the Human Tissue (Authorisation)(Scotland) Bill be passed."

Read Gordon Hutchison's story with Organ Donation Scotland here., external

Or click here to access the video advert with Gordon here., external

Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick says he is clear this bill will add to the improvements seen in organ donation in recent years.

Mr Fitzpatrick pays warm tribute to the incredibly generosity of donors and their families.

He explains "deemed authorisation" - when a person aged 16 years or older has not made any objection to donation - means donation may proceed.

The bill ensures the donor's rights and wishes are respected at all time and there is a duty to allow families to give the most recent views of the donor, he explains.

He says the sensitive approach currently in place will continue.

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MSPs agreed the general principles of the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill, external, on 26 February 2019.

107 MSPs backed it, Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles voted against and SNP MSPs Christine Grahame and Colin Beattie abstained.

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

At present, people must opt in to the system in order to donate their organs for transplants after they die.

Under the proposals published at the Scottish Parliament, it will be assumed people were in favour of donation unless they have stated otherwise.

MSPs debate the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill, external for the final time before voting on whether to pass it at decision time.

Mr MacDonald explains his amendment will ensure there is a review and report on the new system, five years after its implementation.

It must say whether the objectives of the bill have been met to allow parliament to make a judgement about whether it has made the difference we are hoping for he states.

The amendments are agreed, thus conclude consideration of amendments.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

There's not many amendments to this bill.

Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick speaks to his amendment one from Group 1 on information and awareness.

The full amendment below is agreed unanimously to as is amendment two.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

MSPs debate Stage 3 amendments to the Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill, external.

• Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3, external
• Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3, external

Despite being an energy-rich country, over a quarter of households live in fuel poverty (using the current definition). This rises to over 50% of households in some local authority areas, such as Orkney Islands and Na h-Eileanan Siar.

In 2002, the then Scottish Executive set a target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016. This target was not met.

It is worth noting the new target of only 5% of all households in 2040 being in fuel poverty could be equal to around 140,000 homes.

The Scottish government believes a 0% target may be unrealistic and unachievable, and say that two of the main drivers of fuel poverty - energy prices and household incomes - is largely outwith its control.

Image source, Jupiter

Increasing numbers of housing association tenants are either in fuel poverty or at increased risk of it, a survey suggests.

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) survey also found a rise in tenants disconnecting their power or heating due to lack of money.

A total of 52 members of the association responded to the poll.

Almost three quarters (73%) of the 37 which responded to a question on fuel poverty said there had been a rise in tenants either experiencing this or who are at risk of doing so.

Until this bill fuel poverty has been defined defined as a household spending 10% of its net income on fuel costs after housing, care and childcare costs.

Local government committee convener James Dornan welcomes many of the amendments made to the bill during last week's stage 3 discussion.

He insists there is no credible plan for bringing the target date forward to 2032 without a real risk of missing it.

The maturity of this parliament has been demonstrated as all parties have worked together on this bill, Mr Dornan states.