TV licence U-turn to be rubber stamped

Move to go before Tynwald

A bid to restore free television licences for people over the age of 75 should be rubber stamped by Tynwald in ten days' time.

Plans for a U-turn, which could benefit about 5,800 Island households, are due to go before the court.

Anyone over the age of 75 who has paid the £145.50 fee since 1 September will be refunded, with the cost met through savings in Jobseekers’ Allowance payments.

Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan says if a rebate scheme is approved, eligible pensioners will need to make a claim to social security for a payment equal to the cost of their licence.