Tom Watson urges government to save free TV licences
Nearly 400,000 people across the West Midlands will lose their free TV licences under changes proposed by the BBC, according to figures released today.
The publicly funded broadcaster is considering making the over-75s pay the full £150.50 a year from 2020, when it loses its Government funding for the licence.
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson has today urged the Government to step in to "save free TV licences", citing new House of Commons library figures showing that at least 376,900 households across the region will lose out if the system is scrapped altogether.
The figures show that 17,180 people would miss out in Wolverhampton, 11,660 in Walsall, 18,320 in Dudley and 22,320 in Sandwell. Across parts of Staffordshire 35,100 elderly people would no longer get a free licence.
In total almost four million people could be affected in the UK.
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The free licence scheme was introduced by Gordon Brown's Labour government in 2000 and costs £745 million a year to run.
Theresa May has pledged to maintain the benefit for the duration of the current Parliament.
West Bromwich East MP and Shadow Culture Secretary Mr Watson, said: “People across the West Midlands will not forgive the Tories if they break their election promise and allow free TV licences to be scrapped or reduced.
“Pensioner poverty is rising as is social isolation and loneliness among older people. It’s often at Christmas time that loneliness is most keenly felt.
“We should be looking out for older people, not taking away their free TV licences. The Government must step in and save free TV licences.”
Earlier this year the BBC launched a consultation over how to fund the licences after 2020.
A number of options are being considered, including raising the qualifying age to either 77 or 80, means testing licences by linking them to pensions credit, and offering all over-75 households a 50 per cent concession.
The broadcaster's Director General Tony Hall said: "While the costs of the schemes are rising, so is the need for our programmes and content. We are looking at options for reform, what's fair, what's feasible."
According to bosses the cost of taking on the scheme would be the equivalent of what is spent today on all of BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, the BBC News Channel, CBBC and CBeebies.
Former Prime Minister Mr Brown has also hit out at the plans, which he says come at a time when poverty is rising.
“It is the height or arrogance for anyone to champion the case for the unelected BBC to have the power to make such a decision," he said.
“Indeed, it is a mistake to decide that this form of taxation should be imposed by anyone other than the Government.”
The 2017 Conservative Manifesto promised to “maintain all other pensioner benefits, including free bus passes, eye tests, prescriptions and TV licences, for the duration of this Parliament”.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright has said he would like the scheme to continue but he expects the BBC to shoulder the cost.
Currently, a free TV licence is available to all households that have at least one person aged over 75.
The consultation runs until February. Visit bbc.com/yoursay to take part.
