§ Mr. Aitkenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the current estimated cost of the concessionary 5p television licence scheme as it is applied to retirement pensioners living in sheltered accommodation;
(2) what would be the cost of extending the concessionary 5p television licence scheme to cover all retirement pensioners.
§ Dr. SummerskillI have been asked to reply.
The present cost—including administrative costs—of the old persons' home 5p television licence concessionary scheme is about £5 million in a full year. It is estimated that the cost of extending this scheme to cover all households containing one or more retirement pensioners—also including administrative costs—would be between £100 million and £110 million in a full year.