§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which year the sum of £1.25 was established as the deduction permitted to a registered blind person applying for a licence for television under the Wireless Telegraphy Act; what percentage of the total fee this then represented; what percentage of a colour licence this now represents; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonRegistered blind persons have been entitled to a reduction of £1.25 in the television licence fee since 1965 when a combined radio and television licence fee was introduced. The reduction represented the amount of the radio licence fee which registered blind persons had for many years been exempt from paying. That fee remained at £1.25 until its abolition in 1971. The reduction represented 25 per cent. of the fee then payable for a combined radio and television licence; it represents 2.7 per cent. of the current colour television licence fee.
We have no plans either to increase the amount of the reduction or to abolish it.