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<p>The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee and
all of its concessions. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport therefore
does not hold information on the number of people who claim, or are eligible for,
the blind (severely sight impaired) TV licence concession.</p><p>Local authorities
hold the register of those who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, and
NHS Digital published a report in 2017 on the numbers of people registered. This report
can be found here: <a href="https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/registered-blind-and-partially-sighted-people/registered-blind-and-partially-sighted-people-england-2016-17"
target="_blank">https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/registered-blind-and-partially-sighted-people/registered-blind-and-partially-sighted-people-england-2016-17</a>.</p><p>The
Government is deeply disappointed in the BBC’s decision to restrict the over 75s licence
fee concession to only those in receipt of pension credit. The BBC must ensure that
it supports those affected by its decision and must look at how it can use its substantial
licence fee income to support older people and deliver for UK audiences of all ages.</p><p>
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