Young Scot card and cashless catering

Dear Sir or Madam

This summer parents of children at or about to attend Edinburgh
Council’s secondary schools have been sent letters about the
cashless catering system now being introduced, together with
application forms for the Edinburgh Young Scot entitlement card.
(Ref: NEC YP (P7) App v1.0 April 2008)

For any parent who wishes their child to obtain school meals no opt
out from the Young Scot card scheme is described. Thus in the
'Frequently answered questions' section (Ref: NEC YP (P7) FAQ v1.0
April 2008) in response to the question:

Why should I get an Edinburgh Young Scot / One Edinburgh Card

one of the benefits is lasted as:

• Cashless catering in City of Edinburgh County secondary schools

Nowhere on the form or in the accompanying correspondence is any
alternative method of paying for school meals described. In other
words, parents are being offered no choice. If their child is to
obtain school meals it will be necessary for them to be registered
for a Young Scot card.

This policy is in clear contradiction of numerous ministerial
answers which have been given in the Scottish Parliament, stating
that such entitlement cards are entirely voluntary and access to
services would not be denied to anyone opting not to register.

Thus, in May 2005, Mr. Tom McCabe said (S2W-16501) "I can confirm
that the card is voluntary and no-one would be denied access to the
services that they are entitled to should they decline the offer of
a card.".

And in January of this year the Herald published the following
statement from a Scottish Government spokeswoman:

"Authorities and schools who use the card to access school meals
must also provide an alternative method for those students who do
not wish to carry a card.

The Schools (Scotland) Act 2007, among other things, ensures local
authorities promote the uptake and benefits of school meals.

The Scottish government does not support compulsory use of National
Entitlement Cards for local public services."

Ref:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/school-bos...

Accordingly, please inform me:

1) whether there is a universally available method of opting out of
the Young Scot card scheme for a student who requires school meals

2) if so, why this option is not being clearly explained to all
parents

3) whether legal advice was taken before deciding to implement
this system in Edinburgh’s secondary schools

4) whether a privacy impact assessment was conducted in advance

and

5) whether the Information Commissioner's Office was consulted.

Yours faithfully

Dr John Welford

NO2ID Edinburgh

Dear Janet McKenzie

Many thanks for your response to my Freedom of Information request.

I would like to clarify the following points:

Concerning the type of non-personalised card intended for children
who are not Young Scot cardholders but wish to have school meals:

1. Is parental advice required to obtain such a card?

2. Is there an application form that is filled out, by either
parents, the child, or teachers? What personal information is on
the form, and can I see a copy?

3. What personal information does the card's RFID chip hold? Does
it hold the child's Unique Citizen Reference Number or some
equivalent student number or other identification that could link
it to the individual child?

4. If a child's Citizen's Account had not been previously
activated, is it activated when such a card is issued?

5. Is the personal information submitted subsequently stored
separately from that of those pupils who have applied for the full
Young Scot card?

As background for the following questions, I am aware of a child
who is not a Young Scot cardholder who has been issued a card that
has "One Edinburgh" and "Young Scot" branding on the front, with
the words "temporary card" and a 16 digit number number on the
back.

1. Are cards that fit this description intended to be used by Young
Scot cardholders who have lost their cards, children who are not
Young Scot cardholders but wish to have school meals, or both?

2. If this card is not intended for both of these purposes, and
therefore is different from the one already described:

a. What is the physical appearance of the correct card for those
children who are not Young Scot cardholders but wish to have school
meals?

b. What personal information does the temporary Young Scot card's
RFID chip hold? Does it hold the child's Unique Citizen Reference
Number or some equivalent student number or other identification
that could link it to the individual child?

c. If a child's Citizen's Account had not been previously
activated, is it activated when such a card is issued?

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely

Dr John Welford

NO2ID Edinburgh

Dear Janet McKenzie

Many thanks for supplying the additional information.

Yours sincerely

Dr John Welford

NO2ID Edinburgh