§ Mr. John Fraserasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider a reduced television licence fee for retirement pensioners.
§ Mr. MayhewNo. The Government consider that it is better to continue to assist retirement pensioners by284W benefits in cash which they can spend as they choose rather than by benefits in kind such as concessionary television licences. Any concessionary scheme would make the licensing system more costly and difficult to operate.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to enact legislation to enable him, before agreeing to any increase in the British Broadcasting Corporation licence fee, to refer such an increase to a referendum of the people.
§ Mr. MayhewNo.