THE age at which Scots could receive their state pension may have to be raised - not lowered - in an independent Scotland, Scottish Labour has claimed.

The suggestion came after the Institute And Faculty Of Actuaries published a report that made clear how the debate on pension provision in an independent Scotland lacked clarity with "two significant areas of uncertainty" - what currency a breakaway Scotland would use and its status within the European Union.

With people living longer, the UK Government has proposed raising the age from 65 to 67, starting in 2026, when the entitlement to the state pension begins.

Last month, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled plans that claimed to match or even better the currently proposed state pension provision should Scots vote Yes next year.

She also held out the prospect that, because of shorter life expectancy in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK, the state pension age could be lowered in an independent Scotland.

However, the institute, which makes clear it is politically neutral and will work with government whatever the outcome of next year's referendum, notes the issue of the state pension age "has long been a political nettle".

It adds there is a danger a future government would use it as a "populist tool to avoid making difficult and unpopular long-term funding decisions".

It warns that a delay in accepting the UK Government's proposed changes from 2026 "may make future increases more difficult to implement, particularly within the early years of a newly- independent Scotland".

The institute said independence would provide Scotland with an opportunity to establish a state pension age that reflected the particular longevity characteristics of Scots.

It added that the SNP Government's review could consider "an even longer-term progression of state pension age increases based on Scottish-specific population projections".

Shadow Pensions Minister Gregg McClymont pointed out how official figures showed not only that Scotland's longevity projections were worse than the rest of the UK, but that the so-called dependency ratio showed while the whole UK would see a 17% rise in those of working age, Scotland would see a fall of 3%.

The Labour MP added: "That's the nub of the problem.

"The review should look at the facts and if it does, then it might see that in an independent Scotland the state pension age might have to rise faster than the rest of the UK. It's entirely possible."

In April, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland said changes to pension rules in the event of Scottish independence could force substantial costs on employers with unfunded schemes.

The Scottish Government welcomed the institute's report, stressing how pensions would be "fully protected in an independent Scotland".

A spokeswoman said: "Social protection spending, which includes state and public sector pensions, is more affordable in Scotland than for the rest of the UK."