Local authorities will be able to opt out of the youth activities opportunity card scheme proposed in the Youth Matters green paper, the young people's minister Beverley Hughes said last week. The card scheme will be supported by a national network and initially funded by central government, but the green paper says over time authorities would be expected to fund sports and other activities by topping up credits on the card. Hughes said disadvantaged young people would get a monthly credit, expected to be about £12. The Department for Education and Skills said it will run pilots giving these top-ups...