§ Mr. SkinnerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will meet pensioners' representatives to discuss free television licences for all pensioners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorSuch a meeting would serve no strong purpose. Our policy is clear and well known to the hon.
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Establishment Number of transfer requests Numbers transferred1 Earliest outstanding request 1988 1989 1990 1988 1989 1990 Holloway 24 45 12 42 13 11 13 July 1987 Pentonville 47 40 10 25 15 6 16 February 1987 Wormwood Scrubs 62 77 16 47 49 9 24 April 1987 Brixton 58 103 37 80 35 10 4 September 1987 Feltham 13 70 18 16 17 11 29 September 1988 Wandsworth 52 91 25 57 27 5 1 April 1987 Latchmere House 10 12 9 8 2 3 10 May 1988 1 Includes officers requesting transfer during previous years. Member. The licence fee is not a proper instrument of social policy, and we have no plans to change the present concessionary arrangements. Giving free licences to all pensioners would cost £435 million a year, and would necessitate increasing the cost of the licence to everyone else to well over £100.