Ministers under renewed pressure over scrapping free TV licences for over-75s

MINISTERS HAVE been put under fresh pressure in the Lords over the scrapping of free TV licences for the over-75s.

Labour former Minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock warned that the plan would condemn thousands of older people to “even greater isolation and misery”.

But Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Minister Baroness Barran said it was the BBC’s responsibility to settle the issue.

In a virtual Lords question time session yesterday, Lady Barran said the Government was “disappointed”

with the BBC’s decision to restrict the concession to those in receipt of pension credit.

Recognising the “exceptional circumstances” posed by the Covid-19 crisis, the BBC board had decided to delay the start date for stopping free TV licences for over-75s until August and would keep the issue under review, she said. But Lord Foulkes said it was the Government which was “forcing many hundreds of thousands of old people to stay at home for many more months”.

He said TV was vital to many old people for information and entertainment, adding: “Will the Government get round the table with the BBC and decide to continue this delay indefinitely – or are they willing to condemn many hundreds of thousands of old people to even greater isolation and misery?”

Lady Barran said the Government met regularly with the BBC and urged it to show flexibility. And Tory ex-Minister Lord Blencathra accused the BBC of “reneging” on its commitment to free television licences for the elderly.