Friday 29 March 2024
 7.3°C   SE Light Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Community / Coronavirus crisis prompts short-term licence fee relief for the elderly

CHANGES to the TV licence that would require people over the age of 75 pay for BBC television as of June have been delayed by two months due to the escalating coronavirus crisis.

The move, jointly announced by the UK Government and the BBC on Monday, has been welcomed by isles MP Alistair Carmichael.

Recognising the exceptional circumstances, the BBC board decided to delay the start date of the new policy until 1 August, the national broadcaster said, adding that it would review the decision as the situation continues to evolve.

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael.

Carmichael said that in exceptional circumstances “we all need to think about how we can help society as a whole”.

He added: “It has been suggested that people over 70 are going to be required to stay at home during the height of the coronavirus outbreak.

“We know that older people are more likely to suffer from loneliness and virus isolation is likely to increase this issue. If this is the case then it is only right that we ensure that they have access to TV programming as a way to mitigate loneliness.”

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said: “It will be welcome news to millions of older people who now don’t need to worry about their TV licence during this challenging period.

“It is right that the BBC have recognised the exceptional circumstances posed by the coronavirus outbreak and the need for the whole country to pull together in the national effort.”

Carmichael added that he has been heartened to see the emergence of many local community support groups.

“We are fortunate in the Northern Isles to have strong social networks,” he said.

“I would encourage everyone to help out in whatever way they can, in order to protect the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.