Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) train and (b) bus operators on restoring the acceptance of (i) the Key Card and (ii) other forms of electronic ticketing.

Following the publication of the National Bus Strategy, my Department continues to work with representatives from the bus industry and local authorities to ensure they have the right technical, commercial, marketing and governance arrangements to design and deliver smart, multi-operator bus ticketing.

Schemes may make use of existing smartcard and smartphone ticketing. However, the Strategy recognises many users will wish to use their contactless bank cards, with fare capping in place.

My Department also works with and encourages the wider rail industry to further roll out advances in ticketing and retailing to make travel more convenient.