This is the other TV licence petition

How much do older people watch television?

I ask because from about 1976 to 2014, I was regularly visitng friends and family in care homes, and at home. At the start of this period the switched on tv was ubiquitous in home and care home, blaring from rooms and day rooms, but as time progressed I found the tv seemed to be turned on less and less and by the time my last relative died I could walk to her room through the day room and past individual room without hearing, or seeing a switched-on tv.

I obviously realise that there are people who are dependant on their tv, but I suspect far fewer than in the past.

I am over 75, I haven't applied for a free tv licence and I still pay as before. I watch very little tv but I listen to the radio, esp R3 and R4, most of the day, and I am very happy to pay for my tv licence as a contribution to the cost of my radio listening.

I am in two minds over this and can't decide which way to go. I realise DH and I are in the fortunate position of being able to afford the licence fee and, although we don't watch a lot, I am addicted to R4! Also things like the BBC wildlife documentaries etc and the Queens birthday parade are unmissable . We haven't quite reached the 75 milestone yet either so I suppose what you never have etc.
If I were in a young family at the top of a tower block the TV could be my saviour but I'd have to pay the licence fee.
I wish 'they' could find a way of allowing those who wish , to send back the fee and it be given to more deserving people - of any age. Likewise winter fuel etc as Sir Alan Sugar suggested. He tried to send his back and was told there was no way! Presumably even the Queen gets it!

Signed

Signed. Increase in pension too

NOT signed. Free tv licences were brought in by Gordon Brown to avoid giving pensioners a proper rise in their pension.

I would like to see all these bells and whistles; Christmas bonus, winter fuel allowance, tv licence, even free prescriptions abolished and replaced with a large rise, £10 - £15, ideally in the state pension, certainly in the Pension Credit level so that we can all make our own spending decsions, instead of all these handouts given out in little bits as if we were too old and stupid to properly plan our budgets.

signed!

Signed

Signed. Thank you Mick.

signed