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TELEVISION LICENCE FEE: REBATE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS _______________
Lodged au Greffe on 2nd November 1999 by Senator R.J. Shenton
______________________________
STATES OF JERSEY
STATES GREFFE
175 1 9 9 9 P . 1 8 0
Price code: A
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion -
to r e quest the Committee for Postal Administration to provide senior citizens resident in Jersey with a 50 per cent
rebate on the cost of the United Kingdom television licence fee.
SENATOR R.J. SHENTON
Report
My proposition is designed to ease the financial burden on those members of our community who have worked to provide the affluence which we all enjoy. The Department of Postal Administration is wholly owned by the States of Jersey, which means that we are all shareholders. When Postal was first taken over by the States it was agreed that services would be run to benefit all Islanders. Whilst profit was essential, it was nevertheless felt that domestic rates would be kept low and sub-post offices kept open in order to ensure that the elderly could communicate with their neighbours. Times have changed but loneliness is still the greatest cause of concern to the elderly. In a supposedly enlightened society we have seen fit to de- personalise communication in every walk of life, and our housing laws restrict the keeping of pets and clamp motor cars. The strength of our independence is shown by the way that we look after our people, and it is a matter of pride that we provide a free bus service, higher pensions, a generous Christmas bonus and many other services not always provided in other communities. The Telecommunications Board provides cheaper rental and call charges to senior citizens; there is no reason why the Postal Department could not provide a subsidy on television licence fees.