§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if she will estimate the additional cost of reducing the level of the colour TV licence fee to the same level as the black and white TV licence fee for pensioners in receipt of means-tested state support; [30839]
(2) what plans she has to increase the concessions available to retired people for colour television licences. [30838]
§ Mr. SproatThe Government have no plans to extend the existing concessionary television licence scheme. This would lead to a reduction in television licence revenue, on which the BBC depends for its home broadcasting grant. To make good the shortfall, we would have to increase the licence fee for all other licence payers, regardless of their means. The additional cost of providing502W colour licences at £30—the current black and white licence fee—for all pensioners in receipt of one or more means tested benefit would be approximately £165 million.