Scotland’s social care minister has refused to rule out the government abandoning plans for the National Care Service altogether after announcing a further delay in launching the service.

Maree Todd said she was “absolutely committed” to her flagship plan to transfer responsibility for social care from councils to a new national body.

Ministers said they would consider the “level of opposition” from unions and local government body Cosla before setting a new timetable in the new year.

But he stressed that it was clear the status quo was unacceptable and the way social care was delivered in Scotland needed to change.

Asked if he could guarantee the bill would not be repealed, Todd told BBC Radio: Good morning Scotland program: “We need to reflect on what we have heard over the last few weeks.

“That is why Parliament has adjourned the legislation and we will reconvene and find a way forward.

“Every party in parliament needs to listen to the voices of those who are truly struggling to access high-quality social services in our country.

“We must put our politics aside and put our shoulders to the wheel to deliver the change they want to see.”

Confirming the latest delay on Thursday, First Minister John Swinney said more time was needed to consider views and “get the proposals right”.

Opposition parties oppose the plans, which have already been delayed for three years due to financial pressures and uncertainty over costs.

MSPs were due to consider possible changes to the bill later this month.

However, the health minister said no decision had been made on how the final bill would be formulated as the government continued to seek support from MSPs.

This comes after the Scottish Greens withdrew their support last month; This meant there was not enough support for the plans at Holyrood.

Council body Cosla and unions have previously withdrawn their support, while health boards and care organizations have also voiced concerns.

The SNP is in power as a minority government after a power-sharing deal with the Greens collapsed in April.

They now have to rely on support from other parties to pass legislation in Holyrood.

Maree Todd said she believed local authorities and unions were “largely” in agreement on the National Care Service proposals.

He said: “We agree on the development of a national social service agency. We agree on the right to respite for unpaid carers.

“But we are a minority government. I need to listen, especially regarding the parliamentary process.”

Scottish Conservative party chairman Craig Hoy described the National Care Service plan as “a massive power grab on councils”.

He told Good Morning Scotland that the Scottish government had “completely and utterly failed” the care service bill.

“What the Scottish government has done is to spend the last three years with a deeply flawed concept that has now lost support across Scotland,” he said.

“We warned them from the beginning that this would happen, but again the SNP government didn’t listen.”