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Ministers bow to Burstow demands on TV Licence Sham
February 4, 2003 12:30 PM
Ministers bow to Burstow demands on TV Licence Sham
Local MP Paul Burstow has today claimed a 'victory for common sense' as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has bowed to MP pressure to allow sheltered housing schemes to receive concessionary TV licenses for all residents by April 2003.
At present, if one person in a sheltered housing scheme is in employment, all the other residents do not receive their concessionary TV license. The Government said it was consulting on the matter back in 1998, but until now nothing had been done to change the anomaly. However, in response to repeated questioning by Mr Burstow, Ministers have accepted that they need to close the loophole rapidly.
The residents of the Crown Road Sheltered Housing Scheme in Sutton had written in September to Mr Burstow to highlight their concern.
Mr Burstow also wrote to the then Secretary of State Kim Howells in September 2001 with the Minister promising that 'consultations between the DCMS officials and the BBC on the formulation of necessary amendments to the TV license fee regulations were currently underway.'
Paul Burstow MP said:-
"Ministers have made promises to change these regulations for years and yet there have been local residents penalised for living in a sheltered housing scheme where one resident is working. It is a victory for common sense that Ministers have pulled their finger out to benefit people who should have a reduced rate for their TV licence. "
Ends
Tuesday 4th February 2003
Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport when she will introduce regulations to amend the concessionary TV licence scheme for sheltered housing? (94805)
Dr Howells: We hope to be able to bring forward amending regulations before the end of the current financial year, to introduce preserved rights to the Accommodation for Residential Care concession in cases where the social mix or the level of warden provision change.
• Mr Burstow wrote on behalf of the Crown Sheltered Housing Scheme in September 2002 to the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport to demand when to know when the changes will be implemented.
• 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
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