Lords: Government should fund free TV licences for over-75s
THE BBC should not have to fund free TV licences for the over-75s, peers say today.
A cross-party Lords committee calls on the Government to keep the responsibility – a Conservative pledge at the 2017 election.
Ministers had come up with a deal in 2015 for the BBC to take on the £745million-a-year funding burden from June 2020.
Beeb bosses are considering whether to keep free TV licences for 75s and over, raise the age threshold, means test it or scrap it.
The Mirror and Age UK are campaigning to save free licences. Actor Ricky Tomlinson and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown have also supported the fight.
Peers on the Intergenerational Fairness and Provision Committee say it is “inappropriate the BBC should be tasked with funding the social policy goal of supporting older generations”.
They add: “If the Government wishes to subsidise the fee, the BBC should not carry the cost.”
But the report calls for free licences, worth £154.50, to be means tested, saying: “Free television licences for all over a certain age should be phased out.”
Age UK’s director Caroline Abrahams said: “We’re dismayed they recommend the entitlement should effectively end by meanstesting it. The evidence is clear that a substantial proportion of the poorest and most vulnerable pensioners would miss out.”
Independent Age added “subsidies such as free TV licences” were “not luxuries but lifelines for many older people”. Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson said the Tories had a “duty” to keep their “promise”.