HC Deb 20 March 2003 vol 401 cc896-7W
Nick Harvey

To a sk the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households received free TV licences in(a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02, broken down by type of licence; how many households are expected to receive free TV licences in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04, (iii) 2004–05 and (iv) 2005–06; and what the cost has been. [103805]

Dr. Howells

The number of free licences issued, by type of licence and in total, in 2000–01 and 2001–02, the forecast total for each of the years 2002–03 to 2005–06 (for which a breakdown by type of licence is not available), and the actual or forecast costs for each year, are as follows.

Number of free licences issued by type of licence (thousands)
Colour Black and white Accommodation for residential care Total free licences issued (thousands) Cost £ million)
2000–01 2,963 36 154 3,153 323
2001–02 3,348 25 478 3,851 372
2002–031 3,904 390
2003–041 3,927 407
2004–051 3,952 425
2005–061 3,982 448
1 Forecast

Notes:

Expenditure is in nominal terms and for the United Kingdom. Numbers and forecasts of licences issued are rounded to the nearest thousand.

Actual and forecast costs are rounded to the nearest million pounds.

Source:

For 2000–01 and 2001–02: Ernst and Young Audit Reports.

For 2002–03 and subsequent years: pre-Budget report, November 2002

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were(a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of a free TV licence in each of the last three years in Chorley constituency. [104071]

Dr. Howells

TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for the over-75s as agent for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 5,700 people aged 75 or over living in the Chorley constituency.