Treasury 'satisfied' that free TV licences are 'justifiable' 

MHK queries whether equality impact assessment has been carried out

Treasury says it is ‘satisfied’ that providing free TV licences for people over the age of 75 who don’t qualify for Income Support is ‘justifiable’.

However it says, along with the Council of Ministers, it is aware that the decision may be viewed as ‘inequitable’ in regard to the protected characteristic of age.

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper had asked for details of any equality impact assessment which had been undertaken in support of the concession.

Minister Alex Allinson confirmed no such assessment had been done but Treasury had taken note of a similar exercise carried out by the BBC in June 2019.

He added that the position adopted is consistent with the Tynwald resolution of 2016 that all Isle of Man residents over the age of 75 should receive a free TV licence.

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