§ 21. Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will apply the same criteria as apply to hotels and boarding houses regarding television licences for retirement pensioners, and handicapped people who live in specially provided accommodation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Government are reviewing the whole question of the licensing of television sets in hotels but any change would require legislation. I have initiated, without commitment, a study into the possibility of free television licences or concessionary arrangements for pensioners and other groups such as the disabled. I hope that a report on this study will be published by about the middle of the year.