Campaign response - Take back responsibility

Thank you to constituents who have recently emailed me with their concerns about the BBC's decision to scrap free TV licences for the over-75s.

I fully understand the strength of feeling expressed by many constituents on this issue.

The former Chancellor first announced in the 2015 summer budget that the Department for Work and pensions will cease to fund free TV licences for those aged 75 and over from 2019/20, and that the BBC will instead absorb the cost of this and take responsibility for the policy.

At the time, the government agreed to boost the BBC’s income by increasing licence fee each year in line with inflation and requiring iPlayer users to have a TV licence.

This shift of financial burden from taxpayers to the BBC to fund free TV licences is based on an intention to deliver sound public finances and is one that I support.

The BBC is operationally independent from the Government, so the announcement is very much its own decision.

In 2017-18, the BBC received over £3.8 billion in licence fee income—more than ever before. The BBC is also making over £1 billion a year from commercial work, such as selling content abroad, which can be reinvested.

Taxpayers clearly want to see the BBC use its substantial financial income appropriately and ensure that it delivers for UK audiences.

I am therefore very much disappointed by the BBC’s decision to no longer provide free TV licences for over-75s, despite reviewing over 190,000 submissions in the public consultation exercise it ran.

With several proposals on the table, the BBC has taken the most narrowly defined reform option that will have the biggest impact on older people.

I believe that the BBC can and ought to do more to support over-75s who have contributed so much to our society.

I will continue to monitor this issue closely and speak up for the interest of constituents when the opportunity arises.