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TELEVISION LICENCE FEE: REBATE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (P.180/99) - COMMENTS _______________
Presented to the States on 7th December 1999 by the Finance and Economics Committee
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STATES OF JERSEY
STATES GREFFE
175 1 9 9 9 P . 1 8 0 C o m .
Price code: A
Comments
The Finance and Economics Committee believes that, whilst the proposal to provide pensioners with subsidised television licences is a laudable one, in its view benefits and services should be delivered in a co-ordinated manner and should be targeted at the less financially advantaged.
Those Committees which decide upon and recommend to the States, the level of benefits most appropriate to the needs of the elderly and the most efficient and effective means of delivering the necessary support have all agreed to three-year cash limits.
The agreed cash limits do not, however, include any provision for further measures which may be agreed by the States as a result of the recommendations of agencies such as the Employment and Social Security Committee and the Social Policy Strategy Group, of which Senator Shenton is Co-Chairman. It is appropriate, therefore, for the current proposition and any other similar proposals to be referred to such agencies.
The proposal that the Committee for Postal Administration should meet the cost of such a rebate, which including administration costs could easily be in excess of £500,000 annually, is wholly inappropriate given the rôle played by that Committee as collection agent only on behalf of the BBC.