§ Mr. HansonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the visually impaired persons rebate on television licence costs was last reviewed; and what the rebate would now be if it had been increased in line with inflation since then. [8554]
§ Mr. SproatThe reduction in the television licence fee for registered blind people used to be equivalent to the radio licence fee. The last increase was in 1965 and, since radio licences were abolished in 1971, the reduction in the television licence fee issued to blind people has remained at £1.25. If the reduction had increased with inflation from 1965 it would have risen to £12.65 by November 1995, based on latest available retail prices index figures. A specially adapted monitor which receives broadcast television signals in sound only is available from the Royal National Institute for the Blind. No licence is required to use such a monitor.