§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many pensioners qualify for concessionary television licences; and what is the cost.
§ Mr. RentonAbout 786,000 pensioners and disabled people benefit from the concessionary television licence, at a cost of about £30 million a year in terms of licence revenue forgone. Most are pensioners, but separate records are not kept showing the breakdown between them and the disabled.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what would be the cost of extending concessionary television licences to all pensioners.
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Region Numbers May June July August September Total Northern 940 1,070 1,580 1,150 1,180 5,920 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,700 1,680 2,460 1,790 1,990 9,620 East Midlands and Eastern 1,780 1,830 2,220 1,670 1,670 9,170 London and South East 5,430 5,700 7,160 6,080 5,470 29,840 South West 1,700 1,450 1,890 1,520 1,450 8,010 Wales 1,150 1,160 1,610 1,230 1,140 6,290 West Midlands 2,020 1,750 2,050 1,690 1,490 9,000 North west 1,640 1,550 2,110 1,740 1,770 8,810 Scotland 1,870 1,980 2,430 1,900 1,670 9,850 Great Britain Total 18,230 18,170 23,510 18,770 17,830 96,510
§ Mr. RentonThe cost of extending the £5 concessionary television licence to all pensioner households would be about £340 million a year in terms of licence revenue forgone.