Television Licences: Older People

(asked on 17th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to enforce the proposed new licence fee arrangement for those aged 75 or over, in the event of non-payment.


Answered by
Lord Ashton of Hyde Portrait
Lord Ashton of Hyde
This question was answered on 28th June 2019

The decision on the future of the free TV licence fee concession is entirely a matter for the BBC. In the 2015 funding settlement, we agreed that responsibility for the concession would transfer to the BBC in June 2020. The agreement became part of the Digital Economy Act 2017, discussed and passed by the House, and enshrined in the new Royal Charter in 2017. Both the Act and the Royal Charter are already in the public domain.

The BBC conducted an extensive public consultation with over 190,000 responses, before coming to a view that only those aged 75 and above and in receipt of pension credit will continue to receive a free television licence.

The Secretary of State expressed disappointment with the BBC for taking the most narrowly focused reform option despite receiving its highest ever level of licence fee funding. We have asked the BBC to do more to help the most vulnerable groups affected by the decision.

Enforcement of the licence fee is also a matter for the BBC. But we have asked the BBC to consider among its measures of support for vulnerable groups, those which might alleviate concerns around enforcement among the over 75s.

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