asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will add to the terms of reference of Professor Peacock's inquiry the consideration of entitling retirement pensioners on supplementary benefit who do not have in their household a person below retirement age to a free colour television licence.

The task of the committee is to consider possible ways of financing the BBC, in whole or in part, by means other than the licence fee, rather than to examine modifications to the licence fee system itself. I therefore do not think it is appropriate for this issue to be included in the terms of reference.