A GLASGOW MSP who asked constituents whether he should apply for his free bus pass having turned 60 has made a decision.

John Mason wanted help deciding if he should accept the concessionary travel because he is now eligible or should he continue to pay fares because as an MSP earning £62,000, he can afford to.

Mr Mason’s solution to his dilemma was helped by the majority of those who responded to his call stating he should take the pass.

The Shettleston SNP MSP said he will take the pass but he will donate any money he saves to charity.

Mr Mason said he had 89 people respond to his request and 75 said he should take it with 15 saying he should not.

He said the reasons given for accepting the pass included It helps promote public transport, protects the universal provision of bus passes if people apply for them and If we have paid tax, we are entitled to a pass.

Mr Mason said: “Many thanks to all those who responded to my question about the bus pass. Now that I have reached age 60, I had to make the decision whether to apply for it or not.”

Around 230,000 people who receive the pass are aged between 60 and 65. Many are in work and some are well paid jobs like Mr Mason leading to some people arguing the free travel shouldn’t apply to those in work.

Mr Mason, a regular bus user in Glasgow, agrees he can afford to pay the fares, which he believes to be good value.

He added: “One suggestion I liked was that I could donate the money saved to charity and so I myself would be no better off and no worse off.

“So I have decided to go with the majority opinion, apply for a bus pass, and donate the fares I save to charity.”

The Scottish Government is to consult on the future of the scheme and is looking into extending it to other groups but also at the long term sustainability of offering it all over 60s.

The scheme costs the Scottish Government around £200m a year in payments to the bus operators.

The cash was cut by almost £10m at the last Scottish budget prompting fears bus firms would hike prices to meet the shortfall.

Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, however promised the card would be taken away form anyone

He said that whatever the outcome of the consultation, no-one who currently holds a free bus pass will have it removed.