– Scottish Parliament written question – answered at on 23 May 2005.
Question S2W-16501
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on plans to introduce electronic entitlement cards for all Scottish citizens and whether such cards would be voluntary.
The Scottish Executive has made progress in two areas.
Firstly, working alongside local authorities as the card issuers, we have completed an evaluation process to: determine the potential for a multi-application entitlement card, including the issue of more than 100,000 cards to citizens; test the roll-out of a young person’s version of the card with cards being issued to more than 300,000 young people; identify a suitable range of services for the card, including concessionary fares, cashless catering, school registration, proof of age, library and leisure services.
Secondly, again working with all local authorities, we have put in place a framework for the rationalisation and replacement of the many disparate card schemes that currently exist, into a single – Scotland-wide - scheme.
Both of the above have been delivered with support from the Modernising Government Fund as part of a wider programme of modernisation work with local authorities, called "Customer First".
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. Further information on the Customer First programme is available at www.openscotland.gov.uk.
Yes1 person thinks so
No1 person thinks not
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