§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will extend the concessionary television licences for pensioners living on their own in their own accommodation; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what response he has made to proposals made to him by various local authorities concerning extending the concessionary television licence to pensioners living on their own and in their own accommodation.
§ Mr. HurdWe have no plans to introduce any general concessionary television licence. We continue to believe that the best way to help retirement pensioners is by maintaining the real value of the pension. Three local authorities who wrote this year on the general subject of concession's have been so informed.