The Manx Government could decide to step in with funds if the BBC decides to stop paying for TV licences for the over-75s.

The corporation has launched a consultation on how licence fees for the over-75s, which are free, should be funded in future. In the UK, they are financed by a part government-funded scheme until 2020, after which the BBC is due to take on the full cost.

In the Isle of Man a cost-sharing agreement was negotiated and is due to last until 2022. However, Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas told the House of Keys last week, the BBC has an option to ’reform’ its arrangement with the Isle of Man once the UK arrangements change at the end of March 2020.

But he gave an assurance that the Manx government could step in if necessary to prevent over-75s suddenly having to pay for their television licence.

Mr Thomas said any change to the agreement between the Isle of Man and the BBC ’will not preclude the Isle of Man Government from supplementing any age-related concession which the BBC may operate from that date’.

He explained: ’In other words, even if the BBC decided to increase the age at which the concession became available in the UK or it became means-tested in the UK, it would be open to the Isle of Man Government to consider whether or not to top up the concession in the island so that, in effect, all over-75s would continue to benefit from a free TV licence.

The issue was raised by Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew), who also asked Mr Thomas if an Isle of Man-specific consultation might be considered by the government, in light of the potential cost involved and the high level of public interest.

Mr Thomas said the government would consider the move.

Earlier this year, the Manx government reached a deal with the BBC to change the previous situation, which saw over-75s having to pay for a television licence and then seek a refund of the money from the government.

From April, the licence was issued to over-75s without any need to pay up front and seek reimbursement.

Prior to the deal with the BBC, the Manx government had to meet the entire cost of TV licences for the over-75s, but it is understood that since then there has been some sharing of the cost with the BBC.

’Free’ TV licences for the over-75s were re-instated in the Isle of Man in autumn 2016, but only via refunds issued by the Manx government.