§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to lay regulations implementing Lord Whitelaw's pledge to introduce concessionary television licences for disabled or handicapped persons living in hostels.
§ Mr. HurdAs I indicated in my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 3 May, at column 208, we expect to lay regulations before the House shortly to make provision for new television licensing arrangements for hotels and for physically disabled and mentally disordered people in certain residential accommodation to qualify for the concessionary 5p television licence on the same terms as retirement pensioners. Although we propose that the new provisions for hotels should not take effect until the beginning of next year, we intend that those relating to the concessionary licence scheme should come into force as soon as possible.