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23
WQ.121/2020
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHIEF MINISTER BY DEPUTY K.G. PAMPLIN OF ST. SAVIOUR
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 9th MARCH 2020
Question
Further to the lodging of ‘The Communications (Jersey) Order 2020: extension to Jersey by Order in Council’ (P.14/2020), will the Chief Minister advise whether the B.B.C. began in 2018 to contribute towards the cost of Jersey’s means-tested concession to the television licence for over 75s, as was envisaged in the Comments to ‘Television Licence Fee: exemption for Jersey residents aged 75 and over’ (P.117/2016), and, if so, how much was saved by the States of Jersey as a result; and will he further state what reassurances, if any, have been received by the Government that Islanders will be treated the same as residents of the U.K. in any further developments regarding the payment of the television licence?
Answer
I would like to reassure the Assembly and the public, that regardless of any changes or decisions made by the BBC, Jersey’s existing over 75’s TV Licence Benefit Scheme will continue, unaffected.
In approving the Government Plan 2020/23 the Assembly has already put aside the necessary annual funding to continue Jersey’s existing scheme for Islanders.
In accordance with the commitment offered in 2016, the BBC has contributed £87,000 towards the cost of Jersey’s 2018/2019 benefit scheme. The BBC has undertaken to continue this commitment and the Government expects to receive £180,000 towards the cost of the benefit for 2019/2020.
In 2019 (after consultation) the BBC announced plans to alter their current UK over 75’s licence concession to a means-tested scheme. Because of this policy change, and as a result of Jersey progressing the extension by Order in Council, the BBC will be consulting with Jersey (and the other Crown Dependencies) during the summer of 2020 on the future funding of the over 75’s concession.
The extension by Order in Council and the summer consultation are about whether (and how) the BBC could fund a licence concession for over 75’s in Jersey. The BBC board have agreed to this consultation and have expressed a wish for the Crown Dependencies to be treated the same as UK residents.