§ Mr. SwireTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will safeguard the £5 concessionary television licence for those living in schemes with a resident warden when a scheme loses its concessionary licence by accommodating those not of a pensionable age or by the landlord adopting a travelling warden service in place of a resident warden. [37718]
§ Dr. HowellsAs announced last year, the Government propose to introduce measures to preserve the rights of beneficiaries of the Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary television licence scheme when the social mix or the level of warden cover in their sheltered housing change, so long as they remain in accommodation provided or managed by a local authority, a housing association or a development corporation. Consultations between officials and the BBC about the necessary amendments to the television licence fee regulations are currently under way. We intend to bring forward these amendments as soon as we can but it is important that in doing so we do not create any new anomalies or unnecessary administrative burdens.