Oral Answers to Questions

Jessica Morden Excerpts

Thursday 4th July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

4. If he will support the maintenance of free TV licences for the over-75s.

[Jessica Morden (Newport East) (Lab)]

8. If he will make it his policy to maintain free TV licences for the over-75s after 2020.

[David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP)]

9. If he will support the maintenance of free TV licences for the over-75s.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jeremy Wright]

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the decision to transfer that responsibility to the BBC was taken in 2017 by this House in the Digital Economy Act 2017. I assure him that conversations about what more we expect of the BBC will continue, and we expect it to do more.

[Jessica Morden]

Without hiding behind the BBC again, will the Minister explain to my constituent, who rang up incensed, why his 86-year-old neighbour, who is a veteran and relies on his TV for company, should have his TV licence taken away? Last week the Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Ellwood), who opened the debate on Armed Forces Day, thought that was unfair—does the Minister?

[Jeremy Wright]

Nobody is hiding behind the BBC. Legislation has now provided that this decision should be for the BBC to take, and if the hon. Lady listens to the BBC, that is exactly its message—it is its decision and responsibility. She makes a good point about veterans, and I have raised that issue with the BBC. I expect it to be able to do more for veterans, and it should.