Television Licences (Deaf People)

HC Deb 28 July 1965 vol 717 cc129-30W

Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the anomalies which make it impractical to grant concessions on the £5 television licences which press harshly on people of bad hearing, especially old deaf people.

Mr. Benn

Among the main considerations are these. It would give preference to only one out of a number of categories of viewers; within that category it would not necessarily help those in greatest need; it would confer an advantage on some viewers for whom it was not intended; and it would make the ownership of a television set a condition of obtaining a measure of social benefit.