§ Mr. AllasonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1993.
§ Mr. BrookeOn 14 January 1991, the then Secretary of State for the Home Department announced (Official Report, col. 377–78) that the fee increase for April 1991, which was set at 3 per cent. below the retail price index, would be followed by annual increases at RPI over the subsequent four years. The operation of this formula would, however, be reassessed in 1994.
Licence fee increases are based on the annual increase in RPI as at the preceding September, in the same way as rises in pensions and other state benefits. Application of this year's September RPI figure of 3.6 per cent. to the current unrounded fees produces new rounded totals of £83 for a colour licence and £27.50 for a monochrome licence. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force next April will be laid before the House in due course.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what representations he has received about the workings of the concessionary television licence scheme as it affects Severn house, Worcester; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether the consultations on the future structure and funding of the BBC will include an examination of the concessionary television licence scheme; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI have received representations about the workings of the concessionary television licence scheme as it affects Severn house, Worcester, only from the hon. Member. The concessionary scheme was the subject of long and careful scrutiny before the regulations were revised in 1988. The Government have repeatedly made it clear that they have no plans to amend or extend the regulations governing the scheme. The long-term future of the licence fee and the arrangements for paying it are issues to be considered in the debate about the renewal of the BBC's charter.