Towards the end of last school term, my eleven-year-old son came home from school with an application form for a Young Scot card.

According to the application, this is a voluntary card for 11–25 year olds, allowing them discounts on various facilities and travel – it may also be used as an ID card. I was asked at the school if I had completed the application and I pointed out that since it was voluntary I had decided not to. I was then told that without the card, my son would not be able to use the school dinner facilities or the school LRC when he started at Blairgowrie High School in August.

I have been left feeling this is not a voluntary card at all, merely a deceitful way of forcing ID cards on young people.