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Burstow celebrates TV Licence sham victory
April 14, 2003 3:00 PM
Burstow celebrates TV Licence sham victory
Local MP Paul Burstow today celebrated victory in his campaign to end the anomaly in the concessionary TV licence fee that made all older people in care homes pay full price if one resident was in employment.
Mr Burstow took up the campaign on behalf of the Crown Sheltered Housing Scheme residents in Sutton who had written en masse to Mr Burstow demanding that the loop hole be closed.
Mr Burstow asked questions of Ministers demanding an explanation as why this could not be closed. He also tabled a Commons motion calling for the anomaly to be closed. Ministers have bowed to pressure and introduced amendments to legislation to ensure residents in sheltered housing get their TV licence at £5.
Mr Burstow said:-
"Ministers have been making promise to change these regulations for years and have finally come to their senses and changed the rules that forced local residents to be penalised for living in a sheltered housing scheme where one resident was working."
"It is about time that Ministers lived up to their promises and delivered a system that ensures that sheltered housing residents are not discriminated against through no fault of their own."
"Ends"
"• Mr Burstow has been writing to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport since 2001 to demand when to know when the changes will be implemented. Mr Burstow was contacted in September 2002 by Crown Sheltered Housing Scheme who asked the MP to put pressure on the Government to change the anomaly."
"• To speak to a member of the Crown Sheltered Housing Scheme who are affected by this anomaly please contact Mrs Sturdy on 0208 644 3155"
"• For alternative comment contact Age Concern Sutton 020 8770 4092"
"? Ministers have introduced Statutory Instrument 663 2003 - The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 which came into force 1st April 2003. MPs have until tomorrow (15th April 2003) to oppose the legislation."
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