HC Deb 13 February 2001 vol 363 c123W
Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement about the accuracy of his Department's data base submitted to television licensing for the purposes of adjudicating upon applicants for free TV licences; [150343]

(2) how many applicants for free television licences have been required to present proof of their date of birth at a post office as a pre-condition for their entitlement. [150344]

Mr. Rooker

The administration of the free TV licence scheme has been a considerable success, and some 2.8 million free licences have been issued with the help of the database supplied by this Department.

This administration of the scheme is not a matter for my Department. It is the statutory responsibility of the BBC.

Mr. Chope

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff are employed by TV Licensing; and how many of them are engaged in reconciling applications for free licences from those aged 75 years and over with the Department of Social Security database. [150345]

Mr. Rooker

This is not a matter for my Department. It is the statutory responsibility of the BBC.