§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will change the rules of the television licence concessionary scheme for retired persons in sheltered complexes with wardens to enable the concession to continue once granted in circumstances where the warden's hours of work are reduced; [2883]
(2) if he will introduce a personal concession for retired persons in sheltered complexes of the kind granted in May 1988 to protect the television licence concessionary scheme for those in receipt of the concession at 1 January; [2884]
(3) what plans he has to extend the television licence concessionary scheme to retired residents in sheltered complexes with wardens working on site for 16 hours each week. [2882]
§ Mr. FisherEntitlement to the concessionary television licence fee is linked primarily to the accommodation occupied and the way in which it is provided or managed, rather than being a personal and portable benefit. The requirement for qualifying sheltered accommodation to have a carer who either lives within the scheme or works on site for at least 30 hours a week is designed to limit the scheme to sheltered housing directly comparable to a residential home. The Government has no current plans to amend the concessionary licence fee regulations.