GOVERNMENT Ministers are considering pushing back the age people become eligible for a free bus pass in a bid to save money.

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf is considering raising the age people receive the travel pass from 60 to 65, in line with the pension age for women.

The scenario is laid out in a document supporting a consultation exercise on the way forward for the concessionary travel scheme.

Mr Yousaf has stressed that no-one who currently receives a pass will lose it, but opposition politicians have slammed the move as a betrayal of voters' trust.

Changes to the scheme could also see it extended to provide young modern apprentices with free bus travel, with a pilot scheme due to launch next year.

Mr Yousaf said: "We keep the Scheme under review to ensure that it continues to meet this objective and, as part of this process, the consultation gives us the opportunity to find out how the people of Scotland see the future of the scheme.

“We will listen carefully to the views given in the consultation and take account of them in deciding whether any changes need to be made to the scheme at this time.

"If we then decide that changes are to be made, I can confirm that everyone who already has a bus pass before any changes come into force will continue to have access to the benefits of the scheme."

The options being considered involve either maintaining the status quo or raising the age of eligibility to the women's state pension age at the time the change is made, and keeping pace with further changes in the years that follow.

This could be done in one fell swoop, or by annual increases every six or twelve months. The pension age is set to become 65 by 2018 and increase to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

Scottish Labour's transport spokesperson Neil Bibby MSP said that the SNP had "not been honest" about their plans for the bus pass.

He said: “A Labour government introduced the free bus pass, allowing older people and disabled people the freedom to travel where they choose. We will fight the SNP's cuts to the bus pass.

"The SNP have already cut £10 million from the bus pass budget and now they are consulting on plans to cut back eligibility and restrict the number of people who will get the free bus pass in future.

"In their 2016 manifesto the SNP promised that the bus pass would continue and said nothing about cutting it back. They have absolutely no mandate to make these cuts. To do so would be a betrayal of voters' trust."

Keith Robson, Age Scotland Chief Executive, said: “We welcome this consultation being published at long last after months of speculation. No doubt this will intensify a public debate, and Age Scotland will consult widely with older people across Scotland over the next couple of months to ensure their voices are heard.

“We know first-hand how much older people hugely value and use the concessionary fare scheme, and it can be a real lifeline for many of them. It opens up vital connections for older people to get out and about, keep active and avoid the devastating consequences of loneliness and isolation.

“At least five-sixths of people aged 60 and over have obtained their national entitlement card, and these passengers make up a substantial and growing proportion of the operators’ custom.”