Image source, bbc

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says "safety is the top priority" and a review has been carried out.

Mr Ewing says a refurbishment of the road was carried out in October with increased signage.

Mr Mundell asks if Transport Scotland will be sent to the site amid continued safety fears.

Mr Ewing says that Mr Mundell should make representations to Transport Minister Humza Yousaf.

He says road safety is the responsibility of every road user.

Conservative MSP Oliver Mundell asks the Scottish government what steps are being taken to improve safety at the junction 21 slip road on the M74 where it joins the B7076.

Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks if Mr Ewing supporst calls from the Scottish Conservatives for extending bus pass schemes to community transport.

Mr Ewing says the government supports community bus schemes.

Image source, bbc

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says the government is investing in public transport in rural areas.

Mr Ewing says there is a review of the national transport strategy.

Mairi Evans refers to a bus service that has been cut in her area and asks if the government recognises the need for strong transport links.

Mr Ewing says this is taken seriously.

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In January MSPs were being urged to radically change the way Scotland's bus services are run.

The Unite union said communities were being let down by privately-operated routes leading to falling passenger numbers and rising fares.

Scotland's buses were deregulated by Margaret Thatcher's government more than 30 years ago.

The Scottish government has said it was ploughing almost £250m a year into the bus network.

But ministers have ruled out wholesale re-regulation of buses in Scotland.

At the moment, almost all routes are operated by private companies, which do not have to run services which are unprofitable.

SNP MSP Mairi Evans asks what action the government is taking to improve access to transport for people in rural areas.

Tory MSP Brian Whittle asks if the bill will address local food procurement in schools and hospitals.

Mr Ewing says he convened the first summit on food procurement to ensure that as much of our food is procured locally as possible.

Image source, bbc

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing says work has begun on a consultation for the Good Food Nation Bill.

Mr Ewing says the content of the bill will reflect the consultation.

Mr Lochhead asks if Mr Ewing believes the bill can address the marketing of unhealthy foods.

Mr Ewing says he has invited the Food Commission to consult on the bill.

SNP MSP Richard Lochhead asks the Scottish government what the timetable is for the Good Food Nation Bill and whether it will include addressing the health implications of multi-buys.

Image source, PA/Scottish Parliament

We will bring you extensive coverage of first minister's questions from 12pm.

That concludes the Social Security Committee evidence session on the two child limit on the tax credit policy.

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins says there is a Child Poverty Bill in this parliament and asks if there is anything that should be added to this bill in light of the two-child policy.

Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG) director John Dickie says "we do believe this policy is unlawful" and we will be challenging it.

Mr Dickie says this policy should be scrapped.

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Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland director John Dickie says the policy has a knock on not just for the family itself but also for the economy.

Mr Dickie says there are big costs and more children will be pushed into poverty.

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson asks if the witnesses see any long term costs to the economy as a result of this policy.

Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani says analysis has looked specifically at fiscal and a number of fiscal costs were looked at.

Mr Ghelani says there will be an impact on public services because families are being pushed into poverty.

"It is likely to have a negative impact" on the children affected, he says.

Policy in Practice director Deven Ghelani says local authorities do a lot of important work in getting the right support to the most vulnerable people.

Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG) director John Dickie says there is a real role for local authorities in supporting families.

Mr Dickie says the focus needs to be on repealing the two child limit on tax credits.

He says that the aim of working families having less children is not supported by evidence from America where similar measures have had no affect on how many children working families had.

Mr Dickie says the only thing this will have affect on is child poverty and more children will be in poverty as a result of this policy.

Image source, bbc

In February we reported that the Scottish government said up to 700,000 homes will benefit from its plans to make Universal Credit payments more flexible.

Under the plans, ministers will use new powers to give claimants the option to be paid fortnightly instead of monthly.

The government also plans to offer to pay housing benefits direct to landlords rather than via claimants.

The move is the first use of the social security powers devolved under the Scotland Act 2016.

Read more here.

The committee observes a one minute silence as a mark of respect for the victims of the Manchester attack.