Government blamed for licence fee withdrawal

The BBC’s director-general has said the corporation would be “open to conversation” should the government want to discuss the funding of TV licences for the over-75s.

The funding of free licences is due to be transferred from the government to the BBC next year as part of an agreement hammered out in 2015.

From June 1 2020, free licences will be restricted to over-75s who claim pension credit – a move for which the BBC has been widely criticised.

Speaking as the corporation unveiled its annual report, Tony Hall said the decision taken by the BBC was not an easy one.

He said: “Let’s start by reminding ourselves who is responsible – it is the government who is withdrawing their funding of the over-75s, they decided on that in the full knowledge, let me say, that reform was a possible outcome.

“So the suggestion that, somehow, we are not keeping to a settlement agreement – or we’re doing something we shouldn’t be doing – is just wrong.

“Let me just emphasise two facts.

“One, we have it in writing from the government, and indeed by law, that we should consult and decide what is best from June 2020 onwards.

“We had the power to make that decision.

“Second, I was really impressed in the debate in the Commons the day after we announced this reform, from John Whittingdale, the culture secretary at the time, who said that it was understood at the time that this, ie reform, would be a possible outcome.

“Ed Vaizey then followed and said either take back this policy or support the BBC changes.

“So in my mind it’s quite clear where the decision-making for this lies.

“Do I sympathise and empathise with those who are being asked to pay for this from next June? Of course we all do.”