§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what local authorities are introducing smart card technology to improve access to and availability of concessionary fare schemes; and if he will make a statement. [77938]
800Wbased on coroners' (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) verdicts of suicide, and exclude self-inflicted deaths with open verdicts, accidental deaths or deaths due to misadventure. Figures from 1995 may change as there are a number of verdicts outstanding, and from 1999 changes to these figures may be significant. A breakdown by Service and by year is as follows:
§ Mr. JamiesonI have been asked to reply.
My Department is currently reviewing local authorities' plans to implement smart card concessionary travel schemes and has produced an interim list of existing and planned travel schemes. Active schemes and schemes under implementation (England)1
- Caradon DC
- Carrick DC
- Centro (West Midlands PTE)—Coventry only
- Cornwall CC
- Greater Manchester PTE
- Hertfordshire CC
- Kerrier DC
- Transport for London
- North Cornwall DC
- Nottinghamshire CC
- Penwith DC
- Restormel BC
1Smart cards in use but not necessarily complete issue/acceptance Schemes in preparation and under consideration (England)
- Allerdale DC
- Barrow DC
- Blackburn with Darwen Council (Unitary)
- Blackpool Borough Council (Unitary)
- Burnley DC
- Carlisle City Council
- Chorley DC
- Copeland DC
- Cumbria CC
- Devon CC
- Eden DC
- Fylde DC
- Herefordshire CC
- Hyndburn
- Lancashire CC
- Lancaster DC
- Marseytravel
- Nexus (Tyne and Wear PTE)
- Pendle DC
801W - Preston DC
- Reading City Council
- Ribble Valley DC
- Rossendale DC
- Somerset CC
- South Lakes DC
- South Ribble DC
- South Yorkshire PTE
- West Lancashire DC
- West Yorkshire PTE
- Worcestershire CC
- Wyre DC
Smart cards have great potential to help improve people's experience of public transport by facilitating through-ticketing and "seamless" journeys. In some parts of the country projects are already well advanced. We are organising "showcase" demonstration examples to promote their wider take-up, to encourage scheme integration and help put the UK firmly in the lead in this area. My Department is working closely with the Integrated Transport Smart Card Organisation (ITSO) to create common specifications for ticketing systems to ensure smart cards introduced in one area are capable of working with ticket machines in other areas.