HC Deb 17 February 1971 vol 811 c514W
Mr. Urwin

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) if he will now seek to introduce a 50 per cent. rebate on television licence fees for all retirement pensioners;

(2) if he will now seek to introduce a 50 per cent. rebate on television licence fees for all chronically sick people;

(3) if he will seek to introduce a 50 per cent. rebate on television licence fees for all disabled people.

Mr. Chataway

The policy pursued by successive Governments has been that benefits in kind by way of concessionary licences are wrong and that it is better to give people who may be in need, from whatever cause, an income through the social security system which they can spend as they choose.

In any event, licence revenue would not be the right way to finance such concessions. This could only result in substantially higher licence fees for other licence holders or a severe curtailment of the B.B.C.'s services; neither of these alternatives is acceptable.