Branch secretary Angela Gorrie said, “As petrol prices soar and the planet heats up, free public transport can both take the pressure of family budgets and help dramatically cut greenhouse gases.

“We in the SSP say that free public transport can be an important first step to both halt sliding standards resulting from soaring oil prices and combat global warming.

“The £800 million a year it would cost is less than Scotland currently spends on war and would be offset by savings in road maintenance and medical treatment of car accident victims.”