Education bosses have been condemned for trying to force pupils in secondary schools to carry ID cards by refusing to serve them school dinners if they do not have one.
Scottish Borders Council has told parents that pupils who do not have the electronic microchipped National Entitlement Card (NEC) will not be served in the school canteen.
Campaigners claim that this is a "back door" strategy to impose the Home Office's National Identity Register on people in Scotland.
Finance Minister John Swinney assured Holyrood last year that school meals would not be tied to the NEC.
The Scottish Government has stated that councils may break the law if they use the scheme to discourage children from having school meals.
A spokeswoman told the Sunday Herald: "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."
She added: "The Scottish Government does not support compulsory use of National Entitlement Cards for local public services."
A letter sent to parents by the council stated: "This is an exciting new way of paying for school meals with many advantages and benefits.
"We are combining cashless catering with the Young Scot card It is very important that your child has a Young Scot card as this will be the only way that they will be able to pay for their food."
Ministers would like all people in Scotland to carry the card for use when dealing with local authorities but campaigners say the NEC is an ID card in everything but name.
Scots who have a card receive a unique number and their card may be tracked by a computerised record called a Citizen's Account.
Dr Geraint Bevan of campaign group NO2ID said: "No Scot should be forced to carry an ID card.
"Children should be educated in a caring environment, not tracked like prisoners before they can even spell surveillance.
"Parents should be aware that these cards are being promoted in a range of ways, branded as Young Scot cards for discounts, concessionary travel and school meals. But accepting a card means lifetime enrolment on a database - a high price to pay."
The council after defending its policy of compulsory cards made a U-turn on Saturday, stating that alternative methods of accessing services will be available for those who do not wish to register for the NEC.
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