§ Mr. Roger Moateasked the Secretary of State for Social Services approximately how many concessionary broadcasting licences have been given to pensioners by local authorities under Section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.
§ Mr. O'MalleyFigures for the year ending 31st March 1973, which do not distinguish between elderly and handicapped people, show that local authorities in England met in whole or in part the cost of televison licences in respect of 4,289 households under Section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 and Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970. In the same period, in 2,242 cases assistance was given towards the installation of a television set, and in an unknown number of these cases this assistance will have included help towards the cost of the licence.