Tommy Sheridan: Proposed bill

A cross-party working group is already looking into alternatives to the current system.

During the long and often heated debate, Mr Sheridan said: "Colleagues, the Scottish Parliament grew up on April 27 this year when the voices of the poor, pensioners and the low paid penetrated this chamber's walls and convinced Labour backbenchers to rebel against their own executive who had attempted to wreck this bill."

SNP MSP Alex Neil said the vote was a proud one for the Scottish Parliament and for the Scottish people.

"The abolition of poindings and warrant sales has been on the agenda of every civilised person for many a long year and for many a long decade but it would make a proud day even prouder if we could refuse any delay in the implementation of this bill," said the member for Central Scotland.

Mr Neil added that there were a number of means of debt recovery available and that 80% of poindings and warrant sales were initiated by local authorities.

Vote welcomed

"We have two local authorities in Scotland, Labour-controlled West Dunbartonshire and SNP controlled Clackmannanshire, who have effectively abolished poindings and warrant sales.

"If two of the 32 councils in Scotland can do that and say that there is no adverse impact on debt collection, why can't the other 32 authorities be ordered to do the same forthwith?" said Mr Neil.

The bill's passage was welcomed by Minister for Finance and Local Government, Angus MacKay.

He said: "This is a very good start. It draws a line under a practice which is no longer acceptable in a modern Scotland."

But he added that the job was only half done as an alternative system needed to be found.

Conservative home affairs spokesman Phil Gallie said the bill would actually disadvantage poorer people.

"Without the security of warrant sales, many creditors will simply refuse to lend to those on lower incomes, reducing their purchasing power and increasing social exclusion."

The vote means that warrant sales cannot now go-ahead even if an order has been granted.