Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hepburn and Jeremy Wright

Thursday 23rd May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow) (Lab)]

3. What steps he is taking to support the maintenance of free television licences for the over-75s.

[The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Jeremy Wright)]

The Government have guaranteed the over-75s licence concession until 2020. After that, the future of that concession is the BBC’s decision, but we have been clear that we would want and expect it to continue. We expect the BBC’s decision next month.

[Mr Hepburn]

It was a Labour Government who introduced free TV licences for pensioners, in the vital battle against isolation, loneliness and severe mobility problems. Next year, up to 6,000 pensioners could lose their licence in Jarrow. Half of them class the TV as their main source of company. What is the Minister going to do about that?

[Jeremy Wright]

The hon. Gentleman is right that television is important for many older and more isolated people, but the key word in his question was “could”. We do not yet know what decision the BBC will make, and it is sensible to wait until we have the proposal before commenting upon it.