Television Licence Benefit

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A decision made (08.05.06) to comment on the debate on the financial and manpower implications of p37/2006, the Draft Social Security (Television Licence Benefit) (Jersey) Regulations 200-

Subject:	Television Licence Benefit for people aged 75 and over
Decision Reference:	MD-TR-2006-0057	Exempt clause(s):		n/a
Type of Report: (oral or written)	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):		n/a
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	n/a	Report File ref:		JS/1/08/05/06
Written Report – Title	Draft Social Security (Television Licence Benefit) (Jersey) Regulations 200-	Written report - author		Jane Strecker
Decision(s): That the Minister comment as follows: ‘Following the 2006 Budget debate amendment it was agreed that £300,000 per annum would be provided to support the Television Licence scheme and I am of the understanding that all funding requirements will be met from within this sum accordingly.’
Reason(s) for decision To provide a comment to the States debate on the financial and manpower implications of the Report and Proposition P37/2006 –Draft Social Security (Television Licence Benefit) (Jersey) Regulations 200-
Action required: To inform the States Greffe to lodge the comment.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 8th May 2006

Television Licence Benefit

TREASURY AND RESOURCES MINISTER

draft social security (television licence benefit) (Jersey) regulations 200-

1. Purpose of Report

1.1. To comment on the financial and manpower implications of the Report and Proposition (P37/2006) – Draft Social Security (Television Licence Benefit) (Jersey) Regulations 200-

2. Background

2.1. An amendment was put forward by Senator M Vibert, during the 2006 Budget debate, to bring in a scheme to provide residents aged 75 or over, on comparatively low incomes, with free TV licences.

2.2. The Report and Proposition (P37/2006) – Draft Social Security (Television Licence Benefit) (Jersey) Regulations 200- provides the legislative framework to bring the scheme into force.

3. Comments

3.1. With effect from 1st January 2006 the primary criteria for the award of benefit under the scheme is that a person –

· must be aged 75 or over;

· reside in a domestic dwelling;

· be ordinarily resident in Jersey; and

· have an annual income of less than £12,770 for a single person and £20,720 for a couple.

In addition to the above criteria the scheme provides that the fee for a licence cannot be passed to another person at a different address.

3.2 It is possible that between 2,000 and 2,300 households in the Island may benefit from the Television Licence Scheme. Costs will be in the order of £290,000 per annum. There will also be additional set up costs to provide the necessary administration and accounting systems.

4. Recommendation

4.1. That the Minister comment as follows:

‘Following the 2006 Budget debate amendment it was agreed that £300,000 per annum would be provided to support the Television Licence scheme and I am of the understanding that all funding requirements will be met from within this sum accordingly.’

5. Reason for Decision

5.1. To provide a comment to the States debate on the financial and manpower implications of the Report and Proposition P37/2006 – Draft Social Security (Television Licence Benefit) (Jersey) Regulations 200-

States Treasury Corporate Finance

11 May, 2006 for Decision Meeting 08/05/2006