Giving asylum seekers free bus travel is still something the Scottish Government wants to do, when it has the budget to do so, the transport secretary said.

During an at times passionate debate, Fiona Hyslop defended the decision not to go ahead with a national pilot on free travel.

The Greens, Labour and Lib Dems all condemned the decision and said the policy should be honoured.

The SNP said it was facing budget constraints and was looking at ways to fund the scheme in the future.

Fiona Hyslop, transport secretary, said the Scottish Government was still committed to free bus travel and wanted to find a way to fund it.

She said asylum seekers “should be able to access adequate financial support including free bus travel.

“The issue is more about how best we do it.”

She said asylum seekers were restricted from working under UK Government laws.

Hyslop said she understood people were “frustrated, disappointed and angry” that funding is not available.

She added the government remained committed to finding ways to find the financial support needed but added the UK Government needed to “provide adequate financial support” for asylum seekers.”

Maggie Chapman, Scottish Greens MSP, said it was “time for rhetoric to become reality. For warm words of welcome to become justice”.

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, said one return trip a day would take up almost all of the daily support asylum seekers receive.

He said if the Parliament passed the motion the Scottish Government had to fund it.

Paul Sweeney, Labour Glasgow MSP, said it would be a small cost to the government.

He said: “The idea it is unaffordable is for the birds” adding it was “politically expedient for the government to get rid of it”.

Sweeney said it was a” trivial sum of money and a “relatively small increase” and urged the government to “revisit this stupid decision without delay”.

Bob Doris, SNP Maryhill and Springburn MSP, said asylum seekers get £7 a day and it costs £5.60 for a day ticket in Glasgow.

He added: “It is just the right thing to do”.

He also said the Scottish Government fiscal position had been “deeply undermined by the UK Government”.

He added: “I hope the UK Labour Government steps up and provides the funding the government didn’t.”

The Conservatives said they would not be supporting free travel for asylum seekers.

Sue Webber said the parliament had “lost the plot”.

She said the parliament should be “spending public money on the biggest challenges facing this country”.

She added: “Spending money on asylum seekers bus fares comes at the same time as the SNP and Labour are cutting the winter fuel payment for pensioners."

Webber added: “Parliament has lost the plot. Taking money from pensioners so that asylum seekers can have free bus travel.”

The Greens warned her of the dangers of “pitting vulnerable groups against each other.”

Gillian Mackay Green MSP said: “We should be doing both.”

Alex Cole-Hamilton, LibDem leader said his party supported the Greens motion. He said: “Mobility is intrinsic to integration.”

MSPs voted in favour of the Greens motion to "extend free bus travel to people seeking asylum as soon as possible and at least before the end of the current parliamentary session".

An amendment by Fiona Hyslop was accepted which added "and urges the UK Government to provide adequate financial support to local authorities and asylum seekers to ensure that they are not pushed further into hardship."