PENSIONERS are being encouraged to have their say on plans to scrap the TV licence fee for over 75s.

New figures reveal that 5,440 pensioner households in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd are at risk of losing their free licence altogether under proposals put forward by the UK government.

Regional AM, Eluned Morgan, whose constituency includes Dwyfor and Meirionnydd, is urging local residents to respond before the deadline passes.

The UK government has devolved responsibility for TV licence policy and the cost to the BBC, which means that from 2020 the broadcaster can decide what to do with the benefit introduced by the last UK Labour Government.

The corporation is currently consulting on a number of options including scrapping the free TV licence concession altogether, raising the eligible age to 80 and means testing it and is seeking comments from viewers.

Ms Morgan AM said: “The prospect of elderly people losing their free TV licences makes a mockery of Theresa May’s claim that austerity is over.

"The UK Government should take responsibility and save TV licences for the elderly. The Tory Government knew what it was doing when it forced the cost of paying for free licences for over 75s out to the BBC. The BBC has already announced that the TV licence is due to increase again from April. The Campaign to End Loneliness found that 40 per cent of older people say their television is their main source of company. 

"The government needs come clean and to tell us urgently what they are going to do to ensure free TV licences aren’t cut and they don’t break their manifesto promise.”