HL Deb 18 April 2000 vol 612 c82WA
Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are their plans to amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2000 in order to ensure that those organisations which are responsible for managing sheltered accommodation in which all the residents are over 75 are not required to buy television licences for the television equipment used in communal areas. [HL1956]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government have no such plans. Our policy on free television licences for people aged 75 or over is intended specifically to benefit individuals and their households. A single licence taken out by the managers of sheltered housing, whatever the age of the residents, already covers any number of television sets installed in the communal areas at the specified address. Introducing free licences to cover such sets only in cases where all the residents were 75 or over would inevitably create anomalies, since a single resident aged below 75 would disqualify the accommodation.