Kramer Calls For Free Oyster Cards For Carers Travel

2.27.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Apr 2007

Carers should get free Oyster Card travel when they are accompanying the person they care for. Richmond Park MP Susan Kramer has tabled an early day motion calling for such a scheme as part of the future roll out of smart Oyster Cards.

Susan Kramer said:

"Sometimes disabled passengers can be prevented from going on a journey because of the cost of the full adult fare for their carer.

"Schemes in places like Scotland and Bristol have found a way of dealing with this and I am asking TfL to look at this in terms of travel around London."

Ends

Text of the Early Day Motion:

That this House notes the high cost of transport paid by carers while travelling in London with those for whom they care; notes that a disabled person can be prevented from travelling, despite having a free pass for themselves, by the cost of a full adult fare for their carer; believes that action is required to remedy this unjust situation; notes that various schemes in Scotland, Bristol and Gloucestershire have been able to address this problem with considerable success; and calls for Transport for London, with its forthcoming introduction of smart Oyster cards, to introduce a scheme to allow a carer accompanying a disabled person to travel for free, when travelling with that person.