Image source, bbc

Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes begins the debate on the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, external.

Ms Forbes says the independent Barclay review into business rates made 30 recommendations, with the government accepting the majority of them.

She insists the bill contains meaningful reforms to the rates system including:

• a three year revaluation cycle
• powers to assessors to improve administration and tackle tax dodgers

Image source, PA Media

MSPs will now debate the Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Bill, external for the first time.

There will be a vote on its general principles at 5.15pm.

It represents one of the largest reforms the business rates in decades.

Image source, Getty Images

So with Labour saying they will join the Greens and the SNP in voting to pass the Transport Bill at decision time, plans for a levy on workplace parking are expected to be passed into law.

An attempt by Labour to remove the parking levy aspect was defeated during a debate on Wednesday.

The same fate befell a series of amendments proposing exemptions from the car park tax.

The bill will also shake up bus services, introduce low emission zones in cities and ban parking on pavements.

Join us at 5.15pm for that all important vote.

• Will you have to pay to park at work?
• Read more here

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Sandra White, who proposed legislation which would have made it illegal for vehicles to double park, welcomes the inclusion of measures to tackle pavement parking.

Ms White says she is appalled that the Tories and Lib Dems will vote against this bill.

She details "horror stories" about disabled people and families having to walk on the road due to badly parked cars.

The SNP MSP argues this bill will give people independence to move about.

Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles welcomes the government working with MSPs to improve the bill on buses and pavement parking.

However, he says 20 completely new sections of the bill were "dumped" in at stage 2 - those on the workplace parking levy.

Mr Rumbles says the "two nationalist parties" have worked together to introduce bad law and block amendments lodged by other parties on the levy.

Even though there are good measures in this bill, the Lib Dems will not support it due to the levy he concludes.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP John Finnie begins: "I think this is a very positive piece of legislation."

We are responding to climate breakdown and the climate emergency, Mr Finnie explains, welcoming the provisions on low emission zones.

The Green MSP says you cannot say there is an emergency and defend the status quo.

Labour MSP Colin Smyth says this bill was an opportunity to reform the transport system, but suggests in many ways it has been a "missed opportunity".

He says the provisions on low emissions zones are not fit for purpose, suggesting Scotland should be looking towards ultra-low emission zones by 2030.

It might be a climate emergency when it comes to government rhetoric but it is certainly not when it comes to action he argues.

However he welcomes changes on bus regulation since stage 1 and calls for support to be given to councils to establish municipal services.

Moving to the car park tax, he labels it ill thought-out, and warns about the impact this will have on workers and says his party will not support it.

Nevertheless Labour will vote to pass the bill.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene begins saying there is a lot to be positive about in the Transport (Scotland) Bill including:

• low emission zones
• addressing pavement parking - although Mr Greene expresses some concerns
• bus franchising

Image source, bbc

However he laments all the exemptions from the workplace parking levey suggested by his party were voted down yesterday.

It is with huge regret that these benches will be voting against the bill due to the inclusion of the car park tax, he concludes.

Image source, Getty Images

Last December we reported Scotland's first low-emission zone (LEZ) was being introduced in Glasgow.

The first phase of the LEZ will set emission standards which must be met by 20% of buses which pass through the city centre. It means local bus services must comply with European emissions standards.

Phase two, applying to all vehicles entering the zone, is to be implemented in December 2022.

Campaigners have said the zone will not achieve significant change.

The scheme will be enforced through the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

• Bus firm counts cost of low emission zone
• Low emission zone 'is no ambition zone'
• Read more here

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says the low emission zones provisions in the bill will see us improve the quality of our air as quickly as possible and tackle air pollution.

We are also working with local authorities to put in place low emission zones in our four largest cities, he adds.

The bill will also help bus services by improving information available and push forward with smart ticketing, the cabinet secretary tells the chamber.

On the workplace parking levy, he emphasises it is a "power and not a duty" for local authorities to consider.

Mr Matheson urges members to support the bill this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

MSPs will now debate the Transport (Scotland) Bill for the final time, before voting on whether to pass the proposed legislation at decision time.

Plans to give local councils the power to charge a levy on workplace parking are expected to be passed into law.

An attempt by Scottish Labour to remove the parking levy aspect was defeated during a debate on Wednesday.

The bill will also shake up bus services, introduce low emission zones in cities and ban parking on pavements.

• Will you have to pay to park at work?
• Look back on the debate on Stage 3 amendments here
• Read more here

Tory MSP Jamie Greene raises a point of order saying the Stage 3 debate on the Transport Bill has been curtailed to 45 minutes.

"I do not feel 45 minutes is an adequate amount of time."

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh explains the chamber agreed to curtail the debate, but he agrees to have the parliamentary bureau look into the issue.

Image source, bbc

That concludes the debate and voting on Stage 3 amendments to the Transport (Scotland) Bill.

Phew!

Green MSP John Finnie says currently cycle paths can be delayed for up to 18 months because un-withdrawn objections mean plans have to be referred to ministers.

He explains the second of his two amendments, 175, is incorrectly drafted so he seeks to withdraw it.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish rises to back the amendment which she says will remove barriers to cycle paths being built.

Tory MSP Edward Mountain seeks confirmation from the cabinet secretary that there will be consultation with people involved.

Michael Matheson confirms the content of any new regulations will be subject to consultation and lends his support to the amendment.

The amendment is duly agreed.

MSPs are voting on a series of amendments to the Transport (Scotland) Bill.

To follow the voting you will need:

• the bill as amended at Stage 2, external
• the marshalled list of amendments, external
• the groupings of amendments, external

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill argues we don't know yet the statutory code of practice will tackle rogue parking companies.

She moves her amendment.

MSPs reject Ms McNeill's amendment relating to the recovery of unpaid parking charges.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser says these issues were consulted on as part of his proposed member's bill and he also highlights these changes have also been taken forward at Westminster.

Private car park companies will have to adhere to a code of practice or they will not be able to have access to DVLA to enforce notices, he insists.

This is a package of reform that is sensible, balanced and fair to all he insists.

Image source, bbc

Transport Secretary Michael Matheson says that the removal of the section desired by Ms McNeill would lead to considerable doubt.

Mr Matheson says the word "conveniently" limits the address that can be caught by the recovery of unpaid parking charges and he warns against removing it from this section of the bill.

He insists there is a statutory code of practice that for the first time deals with the rogue companies that exploit the loopholes in the law at the present time.

The minister pivots to his amendment, which sets out the circumstances under which a keeper of a vehicle may be contacted, namely after the driver has 28 days to make payment.

He calls on MSPs to reject Pauline McNeill's amendments.

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill explains her amendments deal with a section added to the bill at stage 2, which was initially a member's bill proposed by Murdo Fraser on the regulation of privately-operated car parks, external.

She says she has deep concerns about the precedence this sets as there was no committee scrutiny.

She questions the implications, such as whether families of a person whose car park space it is would be fined.

We know of exuberant car parking companies issuing fines, she insists, adding this is giving huge powers to private companies.

MSPs now move to the second last group of amendments to the Transport (Scotland) Bill, relating to the recovery of unpaid parking charges.