The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Minister wants BBC to do more to help those who lost free TV licence
The BBC should do more for those affected by the decision to scrap free TV licences, the culture secretary has said. Nicky Morgan told the Commons she was “very disappointed” with the decision and said she has held talks with senior figures at the corporation. In June the BBC announced that up to 3.7 million pensioners in the UK would no longer receive a free licence. Under the new rules, only low-income households where one person receives the pension credit benefit will be eligible for a free licence. Mrs Morgan said: “The government is very disappointed with the BBC’S decision on the future of the TV licence concession. We know that older people in particular value television as a source of companionship, entertainment and a way to stay connected with the world. “I’ve met with the chairman of the BBC board and the director general of the BBC and I’ve asked them to do more for those affected by the decision.” Labour MP Rachael Maskell has called for the promise of free TV licences for all to be honoured, with the Conservative Party having pledged to maintain free licences in their 2017 manifesto. Labour MP Jeff Smith said: “Age UK have warned that the changes to eligibility for TV licences is likely to result in a big increase in fraudulent activity that targets vulnerable elderly people”. In 2015, the government announced the BBC would take over the cost of providing free licences for over-75s by 2020 as part of the fee settlement. In making the decision to remove free TV licences for all, the BBC said the current scheme would have cost £745 million by 2021-22. The corporation said the new scheme will cost around £250 million by 202122, depending on take-up. Funding free TV licences for all over-75s would have resulted in “unprecedented closures”, the BBC said, adding that “fairness” was at the heart of the decision to change the policy.