Clwyd South MS Ken Skates (pictured) is backing a
campaign which calls on the UK Government not to break its promise over TV
licences for over-75s.
The National
Pensioners Convention Wales wants Prime Minister Boris Johnson to honour
his pledge in November that no elderly person would
have to pay for their TV licence and is supporting Age Cymru’s petition to
Westminster.
Mr Skates said: “The UK
Government said that it was crucial to retain the free TV licence for all
over-75s and that it would sit down with the BBC to find a solution. All we
have seen and heard is the BBC and the Conservative Government blaming each
other.
“As the Government said on July
9, it was wrong to implement the BBC’s decision to only give free TV licences
to those on Pension Credit. The BBC has delayed the licence fee changes until
next month, but all the Government has done is to describe it as ‘the wrong
decision’ and refused to intervene.
“It's not the job of the BBC to
administer means-tested benefits on behalf of the Conservative Government. Free
TV licences were introduced by the Labour Party in 20 years ago and should be
retained for over-75s as a universal entitlement.”
NPC Wales says the UK
Government has ‘abdicated its responsibility and duty of care to the most
vulnerable group in society’.
Mr Skates added: “The UK
Government needs to engage with the BBC to work out how to support people whose
only companion and lifeline might be their TV. Maintaining free TV licences
for over-75s was a 2017 Conservative Party manifesto commitment and as it
stands 3.7m older people in the UK are now going to be punished by this broken
promise.”
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