Oral Answers to Questions

Liz McInnes Excerpts

Thursday 31st January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Gavin Newlands (Paisley and Renfrewshire North) (SNP)]

2. If he will make it his policy to maintain free TV licences for people over the age of 75 after the end of the current scheme in 2020.

[Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab)]

6. If he will make it his policy to maintain the provision of free TV licences for people aged 75 and over after the current scheme expires in 2020.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

13. If he will make it his policy to maintain the provision of free TV licences for people aged 75 and over after the current scheme expires in 2020.

--- Later in debate ---

[Liz McInnes]

One suggestion in the consultation is that the TV licence is means-tested and linked to pension credit, yet in my constituency 1,211 over-75s do not claim the pension credits to which they are entitled so would miss out on the TV licence if it were to be linked. Does the Minister agree that that option is totally unworkable and that it is wrong of his Government to lay the burden of their own manifesto promise at the door of the BBC?

[Jeremy Wright]

On the hon. Lady’s last point, I have laid out how that has happened. On the consultation, as she points out the BBC has set out many options. Not all of them will find favour. I am sure that she and others will want to submit their own responses to the consultation to underline the concerns she has expressed. It is right that the BBC is consulting. It is right that it is doing so in an open way. It must consider carefully all the views it receives before deciding its next moves.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mims Davies]

I thank my right hon. Friend for raising that concern. The grassroots is benefiting from £100 million a year in Premier League investment, and we are already in discussions with the body about ensuring that it remains at least at that level for the next three years. However, I absolutely agree that the time is right to keep looking forward to what can be done to enhance the pipeline of youngsters coming through, and to ensure that there is equal opportunity in participation so that, wherever a person comes from, they can get involved in sport.

[Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab)]

T3. Last week in Westminster Hall, we had an excellent debate on the possibility of having an award for towns of culture to complement cities of culture. The debate showed the level of artistic and cultural activities going on in our towns. Will the Minister say what action has been taken as a result of that debate?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Michael Ellis)]

The hon. Lady is quite right: it was a very good debate in Westminster Hall. Since then, I have asked my officials to do some work with key stakeholders to consider whether this would be a valuable extension of the City of Culture. I have agreed to meet the right hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) and other hon. Members to discuss this further. The Arts Council England is also looking to undertake further analysis of this important area.