THE Scottish Government has intervened in the dispute over the BBC’s decision on the future of the over 75s licence fee concession, suggesting that pensioners may have to choose between heating and their television.
Minister for Older People and Equalities Christine McKelvie has written to Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright reminding him that it was the Tory Government in 2015 which shifted responsibility for the concession to the BBC.
McKelvie wrote: “This in itself was an abdication of responsibility by the UK Government – shifting what should be a welfare policy onto the BBC and removing itself from its responsibility to support older people in this area.”
The minister added: “The alternative proposal of a means tested approach is unacceptable. Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions report that in 2016/17, up to 1.3 million families who were entitled to receive Pension Credit did not claim the benefit, yet the Department refuses to advertise it despite repeated calls from the Scottish Government.
“It is therefore clear that introducing a means-tested waiver based on Pension Credit will fail to help many vulnerable people across Scotland. In addition, the means tested approach will still cost the BBC around £250 million by 2021/22, money which should be spent on developing new programmes and supporting our creative economy.
“We know that older people can be at greater risk of social isolation and loneliness, and access to television may be one way in which they can maintain a connection to what is going on around them. This decision therefore is likely to have a negative impact in terms of the Scottish Government’s strategic ambitions of tackling social isolation and loneliness as well as denying some people the ability to access information such as public awareness campaigns.
“The decision will also force the most vulnerable older people to make difficult choices about what they can afford – we already know that due to the cost, many older people have to choose whether or not to heat their homes. It is not acceptable to force this choice upon them.
McKelvie said the number of Scots aged 75 and over has been the fastest-growing section of society in the last two decades, and concluded: “Ultimately, this responsibility should lie with the UK Government. Welfare policy should not be decided by the BBC, and I strongly urge you to recognise the responsibility your government has to our older population, and fully fund free licences for over 75s.”
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