HC Deb 01 June 1967 vol 747 c245
36. Mr. Longden

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange for a reduction in the television licence fee for retirement pensioners who are in receipt of National Assistance.

Mr. Edward Short

Although I understand the considerations which have prompted this Question, I do not believe that the granting of licence concessions on compassionate grounds is the right way of helping people in special need. Only those with television sets would benefit; and it would be unfair to make a concession to pensioners receiving supplementary benefits while denying it to other people in equal financial need.

Mr. Longden

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider that Answer, because television is of tremendous benefit to these people? Licence fees, like practically everything else, are likely to rise, and it would be a very good way of helping these people.

Mr. Short

I agree that it would be a very good way of helping them, but if the hon. Member thinks about it a little, as I am sure he has done, he will realise that there are all kinds of difficulty. As I have said, only pensioners with sets would benefit to the extent of £5 a year, only those with supplementary allowances would benefit, and so on. In addition, the cost would have to be met by the generality of viewers, many of whom would be poorer than the people receiving the concession. There are, therefore, many difficulties.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Will the Postmaster-General be more explicit about the cost being met? Surely, it does not cost any more to transmit a programme because more people are receiving it?

Mr. Short

If the income of the B.B.C. is reduced, it has to be made up from some other source.