People over 75 will still get a free television licence, whatever method of funding is agreed between the Manx Government and BBC.

That was the pledge from Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas MHK this week.

More than 5,000 households in the island currently qualify for the free television licence.

The BBC is changing how licence fees for the over-75s, which are free, will be funded.

In the UK, they are financed by a part government-funded scheme until June this year, when the BBC is due to take on the full cost.

In the Isle of Man a cost-sharing agreement was negotiated and was due to last until 2022, but the BBC has an option to reform the arrangement with the island once the UK arrangements come into effect and a consultation will take place in the island later this year.

Any changes in the funding arrangement would take place at the start of next year, but Mr Thomas said whatever happened then, over-75s in the Isle of Man could expect to continue to have free TV licences.

’There is certainty that Tynwald policy is for free TV licences for over-75s, for all people,’ he said.

In the UK, the BBC said that only households in the UK which include a person over 75, in receipt of a pension credit, would be eligible for a free TV licence from June.

Legislation has just been updated to allow the BBC board to decide about funding of TV licences in the island for the over-75s.

But a determination had yet to be made, said Mr Thomas. ’The BBC have advised, however, that they will be consulting over the summer, with a view to any new TV licence concessionary scheme for over-75s in the island starting from January 1, 2021,’ he said.

’In the meantime the current concession and arrangements between the BBC and the Isle of Man Government remain in place.’

He added: ’For the avoidance of doubt, this means that over-75s in the Isle of Man will receive a further free licence that will cover the rest of this calendar year.

’I do not wish to pre-judge what the BBC’s independent determination for the island will be in due course or what may be operationally possible as a result of that determination.

’However, I hope that it might be possible for the current administrative systems to continue, with all over-75s in the island receiving a free licence from TV Licensing and any funding being dealt with by our Treasury and TV Licensing.’

The television licence fee is £154.50 a year.

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