§ Baroness Jegerasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will pay those pensioners who do not have a television the equivalent of the cost of a television licence, which they have proposed should be free to pensioners. [HL2537]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Government is aiming to introduce, from 1 November, free television licences for all people aged 75 or over. We decided to introduce free licences for older pensioners because, as a group, they are more likely to be reliant on television as their window on the world. People aged 75 or over, who do not have a television set, will not receive a cash payment since the purpose of the concession is to assist access to television and not to provide a cash benefit.