§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what plans he has to review the entitlement to reduced television licence fees for retirement pensions; [6635]
(2) what representations he has received concerning the position of retirement pensioners in sheltered housing paying a reduced television licence fee whose resident warden is replaced by a community alarm system. [6638]
§ Mr. FisherThe Government will be reviewing the arrangements for funding the BBC from 2002 before that date and this review will include consideration of the concessionary arrangements. We have received approximately 160 letters on various aspects of the concessionary television licence scheme.
§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what reduction in television licence fees a registered blind person is entitled to; for how long this entitlement has been in operation at its current level; and if he will make a statement. [6611]
§ Mr. Fisher[holding answer 7 July 1997]: The reduction in the television licence fee for registered blind people is £1.25. The reduction has remained at its present level since 1965. The Government will be reviewing the arrangements for funding the BBC from 2002 before that date and this review will include consideration of the concessionary arrangements.