Youth matters: Roll-out of opportunity cards will cost up to 60m each year

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) is evaluating which of nearly 60 local authorities that have applied will pilot the cards from April 2006. Eight local authorities will get a total of about 30m for the pilots, entitling young people to credits and discounts for activities.

If the scheme is rolled out nationally, the DfES estimates it will cost between 49m and 59.9m a year.

Every young person in England - 2,627,000 - will initially receive 12 on the card, but socially excluded young people will get a monthly top-up of about the same amount.

Speaking exclusively to Young People Now, youth minister Beverley Hughes said: "In the Youth Matters responses, some young people were very clear that all young people should get the top-up, not just the excluded. But if it was universal, the amount young people get would be much less."