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Amber Rudd says the increased use of food banks is partly down to problems in rolling out universal credit.

The work and pensions secretary said she was "absolutely clear there were challenges with the initial roll-out" of the benefit and that the difficulty in accessing money was "one of the causes" of the rise.

But she said the government had made changes to help tackle food insecurity.

Food bank operator Trussell Trust said it was a "promising" acknowledgement.

Research released by the charity this month showed the use of food banks had increased by 52% in areas where universal credit had been in place for a year or more, external- compared with 13% in areas where it had not been.

• What is universal credit?
• Universal Credit: Will benefit changes affect you?
• Vote on big universal credit rollout delayed
• Read more here

SNP MSP David Torrance asks what the government's position is on the importance of foodbanks in supporting people in receipt of universal credit.

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Ms Fee says McGill's buses, the operator in Renfrewshire, has recently announced a number of changes inlcuding increasing fares and axing services.

The company have since backtracked and proposed slightly lesser increases, she tells the chamber.

Extortionate fare increases are only a win for bus operators and not the public, she argues.

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Transport Secretary Michael Matheson welcomes the fact the McGill's has sought to decrease the level of fare they were proposing.

He adds Finance Secretary Derek Mackay - also the local MSP - is discussing the matter with the firm.

Labour MSP Mary Fee ask the Scottish government when the transport secretary last met bus operators that serve Renfrewshire.

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Click here for the full list of questions., external

Alison Robertson from the National Dog Wardens Association explains a dog does not have to have bitten anyone for a dog control notice, they simply need to be known as a risk.

We don't hear of any incidents around postal workers until there has been a bite and perhaps that communication line could be improved, she says.

SNP MSP Willie Coffey asks about measures to stop dog attacks.

Dave Joyce from the CWU says an awareness campaign has led to some improvements already, but we also need to reframe the way the law is enforced.

He calls for the abolition of the "one free bite rule".

Committee convener Jenny Marra closes the public session of this meeting.

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Tory MSP Liam Kerr says he was out with a postie who had been attacked by a dog.

Everyone new that dog would eventually go off and it did, says Mr Kerr.

He guesses that due to the one free bite rule that dog is still there and he asks what the solution is to that

"We've got to clamp down on bad dog ownership," replies Mr Joyce.

The Communication Workers Union rep says he is in favour of introducing dog licencing.

"3,000 of our people get noshed up by dogs every year."

Committee convener Jenny Marra asks whether a dog licensing scheme should be reintroduced.

"I don't think the government could afford it," replies Mike Flynn of the SSPCA.

But he agrees either a competency test for ownership or a licensing scheme, whereby a removal of a license would lead to a person having to surrender their dog, would be a good idea.

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Tory MSP Liam Kerr asks if Ms Donald has any sympathy with the view that some dogs are simply not suitable to be pets.

The British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch representative replies: "All dogs can be violent, full stop."

I have been nibbled at by several different shaped sized dogs, she explains

Ms Donald argues it is deed every single time.

Mike Flynn from the SSPCA points out one of the worst injuries he has seen was a Yorkshire terrier's attack on a six month old baby, who was disfigured for life.

Tory MSP Bill Bowman asks about dogs being passed to the SSPCA because owners can't control them.

Mike Flynn confirms this happens, especially after a high profile incident with a specific breed of dog.

Legal pit bull terriers have to be muzzled in all places at all times, he goes on to say.

Mr Bowman asks whether muzzling all dogs could be a solution but Mr Flynn highlights welfare issues around this.

People know when dogs are not being properly controlled, he tells the committee.

"There are people that use dogs as weapons," he adds, expressing confusion as to why medical professionals do not have to report attacks.

Ms Marra asks if there are any specific breeds that worry livestock.

Gemma Cooper from NFUS replies there is no evidence to suggest it is specific breeds that are doing the worrying.

"It's big dogs that do the big damage and get the big headlines", but small dogs do worry livestock, says Melissa Donald of the British Veterinary Association.

That's why the focus is deed not breed, she explains.

Gemma Cooper from NFU Scotland begins by welcoming Emma Harper's members bill, external, launched today.

Over the last two years there has been a 67% increase in attack on livestock which is a huge cost to the sector, Ms Cooper explains.

21 of 32 local authorities have not issued any dog control orders for livestock worrying, she adds.

Ms Cooper tells the committee that many of the people who allow their dogs to worry livestock do not have a fixed abode, so they are difficult to keep a tab on.

Microchipping the dogs could be a solution, she suggests.

Many of the owners also do not have the money to pay the fine, the NFUS representative says, so other sanctions must be in place.

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Melissa Donald of the British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch says: "We strongly support a deed not breed approach."

"It is not the dog's fault, it is the human's fault who is in charge of the dog."

We have yet to see the impact of this legislation, she tells the committee, and calls for the raising of awareness of the Control of Dogs Act.

Already the Scottish government has done brilliant work on its puppy campaign, she points out.

Ms Donald praises SNP MSP Emma Harper's work in this area and Ms Marra points out the Take A Lead campaign has led to the launch of a consultation on livestock worrying.

Royal Mail has said more than 200 postal workers were injured by dogs in Scotland last year.

Alan Quinn is a postman who was mauled by a German Shepherd in Paisley.

He told BBC Scotland the psychological impact of the attack will never leave him.

Dave Joyce of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) says 250 postmen and postwomen are attacked by dogs in Scotland every year.

Some of these attacks are so serious, both physically and mental, that these people cannot continue in their jobs he says.

We do have a serious problem in relation to dog control regulation, particularly on the interpretation of the law he explains.

Mr Joyce says neither the Dangerous Dogs Act or the Control of Dogs Act are not protecting postal workers.

He criticises the "one free bite rule", saying that it often leads to postal workers not receiving justice.

Police officers don't understand the law they are expected to enforce, the CWU representative adds.

Alison Robertson of the National Association of Dog Wardens says when the Scottish government brought in the Act there was quite a wide consultation.

However it was sold as being ASBOs for dogs, aimed at dogs that were out of control before they attack.

The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act is a civil piece of legislation, she explains.

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The Act gives new powers to local authorities for action to be taken against out of control dogs and enforce measures to improve any such behaviour.

Not setting up a database was a big miss, Ms Robertson explains, for example if a dog control order is given in Aberdeenshire that is the only place it works.

It would be helpful if the notices were for the whole of Scotland or the UK, she explains.

Mike Flynn of the SSPCA says the Control of Dogs Act was welcome when it first came in because it was preventative.

The SSPCA exists to protect the welfare of animals but we will never stick up for an irresponsible dog owner, he explains.

Had the Act been implemented properly, with a proper database, people moving could have been followed up on he explains.

Mr Flynn adds that it is important for dog wardens to properly understand dog behaviour.

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The second panel comprises:

• Gemma Cooper from NFUS , external(National Farmers Union Scotland)
• Melissa Donald of the British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch, external
• Mike Flynn from the SSPCA, external
• Dave Joyce from the Communication Workers Union, external
• Alison Robertson of the National Association of Dog Wardens, external

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SNP MSP Alex Neil says the sentences for serious dog attacks need to be seriously strengthened.

Do you think tougher sentences are part of the solution, asks Mr Neil.

I agree with that, replies Ms Booth, but she points out Scottish prisons are bursting at the seams.

"I do think there should be tougher sentences," she adds.

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Committee convener Jenny Marra says: "I would like to see a much tougher preventative regime."

Ms Marra thanks the witnesses very much indeed for giving their evidence which cannot have been easy.