§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce measures to provide free television licences for all pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HurdNo. The Government consider that it is better to continue to help retirement pensioners by benefits in cash, which they can spend as they choose, rather than by benefits in kind such as concessionary television licences. Under our system of broadcasting finance, any broad concessionary scheme for one category of licence holders would substantially put up the cost of the licence to others.