HC Deb 08 July 1998 vol 315 cc551-2W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the yield from levying an additional 50 per cent. television licence (i) once per household on all households with(a) two and (b) three or more televisions and (ii) once per television on all households with (1) two or more and (2) three or more televisions. [49269]

Mr. Fisher

[holding answer 7 July 1998]: The available statistics on television ownership show only the number of households without television, those with one set and those with more than one set, broken down into colour and black and white. Charging all households with more than one television set an additional 50 per cent. of the licence fee would raise an estimated £661 million in additional television licence fee revenue.

Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what would be the cost of introducing free television licences for all households containing a pensioner aged over(a) 70 and (b) 75 years of age. [48955]

Mr. Fisher

[holding answer 6 July 1998]: The estimated cost of providing free television licences for all 'pensioner only' households where at least one member has reached the age of 70 is £288 million.