§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 87W how many pensioners are receiving concessionary television licences in sheltered accommodation; what proportion this constitutes of the pensioner population; if, he will extend concessionary television licensing to pensioners living alone or pensioner couples living alone, and what proportion of the pensioner population would be covered by such an extension of concessionary television licensing.
§ Mr. JohnSome 300,000 persons currently, benefit from the old persons' home concessionary, licence. They constitute about 3½ per cent. of the pensioner population. An extension of the concession to pensioners living alone would cover about 25 per cent. to 30 per cent. of the pensioner population, and to pensioner couples living alone, 55 per cent. to 60 per cent. The cost in lost revenue of an extension to both groups would be about £65 million to £70 million, or about one-quarter of the licence revenue. The Government are currently considering the question of television licence concessions in the light of the Annan Committee's recommendation that no further concessions should be introduced.