§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the current level of the concessionary television licence for the blind. [57629]
§ Janet AndersonThe Government have not carried out an assessment of the level of the licence fee reduction for blind people. However, the current concessionary arrangements, including those for blind people, will be examined next year as part of the review of the future of the BBC licence fee after 2002. The issues will be examined initially by an independent review panel which will report to the Secretary of State by the end of July. The Government will then consult on the panel's findings.