OYSTER CARDS

Early day motion 691, tabled 22 January 2007 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 38 members.

That this House welcomes the spectacular success of the Oyster Card and the Freedom Pass which is one of the most efficient mass IT schemes in Europe; believes that it would be beneficial if the use of the Oyster Card were to be extended to all overground rail services within London; notes that train operator c2c has become the first rail company to accept an offer of funding from Transport for London to pay for Smart Card infrastructure to support Oyster pay as you go; welcomes this development; regrets that several other operators have failed to take up this opportunity; welcomes the offer by Transport for London to provide Oyster Card validation equipment, including Smart Card readers, station equipment and back office support systems for the scheme; believes that c2c's decision, allowing their commuters to get the full benefit of Oyster, including Pay As You Go, has shown that there is no justifiable reason why other train operating companies should not also accept the Mayor's offer to pay for the installation of Oyster equipment, enabling all commuters to benefit from the full range of Oyster products; and calls on the Secretary of State for Transport to intervene to ensure that this scheme has a London-wide roll-out and beyond.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, DUP 4, Liberal Democrat 4, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.