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BBC to fund over-75s TV licences BBC to fund over-75s' TV licences
(35 minutes later)
BBC will fund free TV licences for over-75s from 2018, culture secretary confirms The BBC is to cover the cost of providing free television licences for over-75s, the government has confirmed.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. Culture Secretary John Whittingdale told MPs the changes would be phased in from 2018-19 with the corporation bearing the full cost by 2020-21.
If you want to receive Breaking News alerts via email, or on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App then details on how to do so are available on this help page. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts. He said, in return, the government will bring forward new rules on paying to use catch-up services like iPlayer.
Shadow culture secretary Chris Bryant called the announcement "an utter shambles".
Mr Bryant questioned government policies being "briefed to the media" after the plans were revealed in a Sunday newspaper.
The current BBC charter is due for renewal at the end of 2016.
In an angry exchange, Mr Bryant stressed the process must be "open and transparent", adding it was "no way to run a whelk stall let alone the world's most respected broadcaster".
Mr Whittingdale said he was "surprised" Mr Bryant "was so hostile when I have answered his question", adding the BBC was satisfied with the agreement.
'Modernise licence fee'
He said the charter renewal process would ensure the BBC could "adapt to a changing media landscape".
He said he was pleased "the BBC had agreed to play its part" in helping tackle the government's "challenging fiscal position".
Mr Whittingdale also confirmed plans to bring forward legislation to modernise the licence fee next year and said the government would consider decriminalising non-payment of the licence fee.
He added the government expected the licence fee to rise in line with consumer price index (CPI)inflation over the next charter period.