§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the estimated number of blind people who receive a discount for their television licence; what is the level of discount; how long it has remained at this amount; and if he will make it his policy to increase the discount for blind people financed by the extra revenue raised through ending the exemption for a television licence on second homes. [26817]
§ Mr. SproatIt is estimated that some 27,000 registered blind people receive the available £1.25 reduction in the television licence fee. The last increase was in 1965 and the Government have no plans to increase the level of this concession. Any such increase would inevitably lead to demands for similar concessions from other groups of people. These demands could not be satisfied without an increase for those who pay the full licence fee, irrespective of their means.