HL Deb 06 May 1965 vol 265 cc1028-9

3.8 p.m.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Postmaster General, in terms of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, as amended by the Wireless Telegraphy (Blind Persons) Act, 1955, will arrange that a blind person shall be relieved of paying the whole of the 25s. a year, being the proposed new licence fee for sound radio.]

LORD HOBSON

My Lords, I am glad to say that my right honourable friend the Postmaster General will continue the practice of issuing to blind people free licences for the reception of sound radio, and of abating for them the charge for a combined television and sound licence by the full amount of the charge for the sound only licence.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, will the noble Lord believe that the whole blind world deeply appreciates this small concession, which has now been made to them by the British Parliament for twenty-five or thirty years?

LORD HOBSON

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his remarks.