§ 1. Mr. Rostasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he has received a petition signed by 4,000 retirement pensioners from South-East Derbyshire, urging him to remove the anomaly whereby at present those pensioners living in accommodation with a warden in attendance pay only 5p per year for their television licence, while other pensioners have to pay the full amount; and what reply he has sent.
§ The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (Sir John Eden)I have received the petition. In reply I have explained the Government's policy which I announced in answer to the hon. Member for Manchester, Openshaw (Mr. 2 Charles R. Morris), my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro), and the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. David Clark) on 7th February.—[Vol. 850, c. 439–42.]
§ Mr. RostI accept that my right hon. Friend has inherited this problem, like many others, from the previous Government, but does not he agree that it is unfair that some old-age pensioners who happen to be fortunate enough to get into warden accommodation pay only 5p for their licence and many others who are, perhaps, more hard up than those in warden accommodation have to pay the full fee? Is not the fact that the previous Government refused to look after pensioners all the more reason why we should review this anomaly?
§ Sir J. EdenI realise the bitterness felt by those who do not benefit from this form of licence. My hon. Friend will, however, be aware that the licence is for old people's homes. It was never intended as a welfare concession.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisIs the Minister aware of the public disquiet about his statement on his review of concessionary television licences for the elderly? Irrespective of the expeditious manner in which he proceeded with his review, is not it wholly unusual for a Minister to undertake a review without consulting one public association, interest or authority? On this important social issue, will the Minister now establish a committee of 3 inquiry and take evidence from organisations outside, to go further into this matter?
§ Sir J. EdenNo, Sir. I do not think that that would be helpful. I was well aware of the wide-ranging interest in and representations made on this whole subject, but I reiterate that this licence was specially introduced to deal with a situation in certain types of old people's homes.
§ Mr. MartenWill not my right hon. Friend reconsider the possibility of reducing the rate of the television licence for the old-age pensioner and spreading the cost of that reduction among other licence holders—
§ Sir G. NabarroThat is just what I have said on previous occasions.
§ Mr. Marten—and letting them show that they do care for the old-age pensioner?
§ Sir J. EdenI should have thought that my hon. Friend, more than many, would have recognised the extensive advances which have been made during the period of the present Government in assisting elderly people by the usually accepted means of doing so. It is right that we should stick to those means.