§ 12. Mr. Radiceasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how much money has been spent in the past year on granting concessionary television licences to retirement pensioners.
§ Sir J. EdenRetirement pensioners as such do not receive concessionary television licences. About 190,000 people have old persons' home television licences; the value of this concession amounted to about £1 million.
§ Mr. RadiceWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in the new situation created by the present crisis, one of the least costly gestures of good will that the Government could make would be to 935 give all old-age pensioners cheap television licences? Is he aware that most old-age pensioners would regard a change of heart on television licences as a real Christmas present, better than the one they are getting at the moment?
§ Sir J. EdenI do not know whether the hon. Gentleman has had the opportunity to study the figures rehearsed in this House on a number of occasions, but to give all retirement pensioners a free television licence would cost £30 million a year. I do not think that can be contemplated.