HC Deb 07 February 2001 vol 362 cc539-40W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what evidence he has requested from the BBC to enable Ministers to evaluate the effectiveness of the administration of the free television licence scheme for those aged over-75 years. [148496]

Janet Anderson

The BBC, as Licensing Authority, has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system, including free licences for the over-75s. The Secretary of State has made no formal request for evidence from the BBC about the administration of over-75 licences, but the Corporation has kept the Department regularly and fully informed of progress with the implementation of the concession.