BBC boss: We WILL cut free TV licences

THE BBC’S director general has warned that it will not perform a U-turn on scrapping free TV licences for over-75s.

Tony Hall said the decision was ‘hard’ – but necessary.

Lord Hall told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The BBC is more important now and is going to be more important in the next decade than ever before.’

Presenting the show for the last time, veteran broadcaster John Humphrys said: ‘And if you’re an old-age pensioner who is worried about paying for the licence – what do you have to say to them?’

Lord Hall said he had been through the decision with the board of the BBC and that they had decided to continue providing a free TV licence to those on pension credit. He added: ‘It’s a hard decision but what we’ve done is to follow the Government’s line on where poverty for old- age pensioners begins.’

When asked if the decision was set in stone, he said: ‘That’s what the board have decided.’

Lord Hall, who took up his post in 2013, made the comments the same day that Ed Williams, the UK head of PR giant Edelman, said a ‘ big majority’ of people believe the licence fee should remain free for the elderly.

Speaking at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, he added that ‘65 per cent of people say it should stay free for them’.

The free TV licence was introduced in 2000, but the BBC agreed to take responsibility for deciding future policy and funding for the scheme in 2015. However, in June it said it cannot afford to shoulder the financial burden – and said from next June, free licences will only be available to over-75s who claim pension credit.

The decision means 3.7million OAPs will now have to pay the £154.50 fee for a licence.

Gone Humphrys – Page 33