HC Deb 19 April 1961 vol 638 cc1163-4
42. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Postmaster-General if he has considered the recommendation by the North Regional Advisory Council of cheap television licences for old people.

Miss Pike

The views of the B.B.C.'s North Regional Advisory Council have come to the notice of my right hon. Friend. He is sorry he is unable to adopt the suggestion.

Mr. Allaun

Will the Minister reconsider this matter, because is not this an instance where a small concession would bring a large return in human happiness? Is it not true that it would not cost the Post Office anything at all if extra viewers were brought to viewing, and that revenue would be lost only from the relatively small number of pensioners who can afford to have a T.V. licence?

Miss Pike

I would remind the hon. Gentleman that pensioners are not a small number, and also that the great difficulty would be to know where to limit this concession. There are many other categories—the bedridden, the disabled—many people we can think of. It would be difficult to limit this concession. We believe that there are other and better ways of helping the people in this category.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Surely it must be the wish of most people in this House that the old and disabled people of this country should share in the amenities of our modern life? I feel sure that it is the wish of hon. Members of this House that I should press the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider more sympathetically the decision which he has made. May I ask the hon. Lady if she has any estimate at all of what would be the cost if the fees for the old and disabled and the other people who are suffering, people of the sort she has mentioned, were reduced by, say, one-half?

Miss Pike

It would be extremely difficult to make an estimate, in view of what I have said about the very wide nature of the concessions which in justice would have to be given, but I know that my right hon. Friend looks at this matter sympathetically. We all wish to help, but we do not believe that this is the right way of helping in this particular case.

Mr. Allaun

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.