Capita lines up congestion contract

JUST a week after winning the £500m contract to collect the BBC's annual licence fee, outsourcing group Capita has landed the job to collect Mayor Ken Livingstone's controversial congestion charge for vehicles travelling into central London.

Capita said today it has been selected as preferred bidder to run the scheme, which, if it goes ahead, will be worth £230m over five years to the group.

The scheme is out to consultation until mid-January and Livingstone has to make a decision by mid-February. If the mayor gives the nod - and many still believe congestion charging may yet become a political pawn in the row with the Treasury over the Underground part-privatisation - the scheme would go live some time after February 2003.

Capita displaced the Post Office from its BBC licence contract after persuading the corporation with its ability to ensure more than the current 95% pay their fees.

In its bid to Transport for London, Capita said it would set up ' multi-contact customer service centres', enabling people to pay by phone and the internet.