§ 18. Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will assess the benefits of using advertisements as a means to fund free television licences for pensioners as part of the review of future funding of the BBC. [72109]
§ Janet AndersonThe current review of the future of the BBC licence fee after 2002 includes a consideration of the structure of the existing concessionary television licence scheme and whether a suitable alternative structure could be available. The independent review panel has invited written submissions on a number of matters, including possible alternative concessionary534W arrangements and how they might be funded. The panel will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by the end of July this year. There will then be a period of public consultation on the panel's recommendations. It would not be right for the Government to preempt the outcome of the review.