§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will introduce a wider system of concessionary television licences for people in(a) sheltered accommodation and (b) elsewhere; and if she will make a statement. [3770]
§ Mr. SproatDuring the passage of the Broadcasting Act 1996, the Government undertook to address the situation arising when the residents of a sheltered housing scheme which meets all other qualifying criteria fail to qualify for concessionary licences because a small number of units within the scheme were purchased under the right to buy provisions before the accommodation was designated as sheltered housing. We hope to lay new consolidated television licensing regulations before the end of the year, and they will address this anomaly. There are no plans to extend any further the availability of concessionary television licences. As stated in the 1994 White Paper, "The Future of the BBC", Cm. 2621, the Government believe that the right way to help the less well off, of all ages, is through the welfare and benefit systems.