Over the past few weeks a group of constituents
have got in touch with me to ask me to urge the Prime Minister to save free TV
licences for over-75s from being scrapped.
They will be pleased to know that the Prime
Minister has now sent a strong and public message to the BBC that they must
reconsider their decision to scrap free TV licences and the impact it will have
on the elderly and the vulnerable.
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 also agreed at that time that this was a
good deal for them.
The BBC is operationally independent from the
Government, so the announcement to scrap free TV licences is very much its own
decision.
To be clear, neither myself nor anyone in the
Government made or supported this decision. I wanted and expected the BBC to
take on the provision of free TV licences.
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 expressed disappointment with the BBC’s decision
to no longer provide free TV licences for over-75s when it was announced
earlier this year, 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.
Like the Prime Minister I continue to believe that
the BBC can and ought to do more to support over-75s who have contributed so
much to our society.
I support the Prime Minister’s call for the BBC to
review its decision and will be speaking up for many constituents who want to
see free TV licences for the elderly reinstated.
Please rest assured that I know how strongly many
constituents feel about this issue. I will continue to urge the Government to
make the strongest possible representation to the BBC when Parliament returns
in October.
