text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Digital Economy Bill - New Clause 8 - Responsibility for Policy and Funding of TV licence Fee Concessions
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  
  @ MP voted aye to give the Secretary of State the power to determine TV licence concession rules and for the Government to fund the cost of providing such concessions. 
  @ MP voted no against giving the Secretary of State the power to determine TV licence concession rules and against the Government funding the cost of providing such concessions. 
  
  The majority of MPs voted against giving the Secretary of State the power to determine TV licence concession rules and against the Government funding the cost of providing such concessions. 
  
  MPs were considering the Digital Economy Bill[1].
  
  The proposed new clause rejected in this vote was titled ''Responsibility for policy and funding of TV licence fee concessions'' and stated:
  
  :After section 365(5) of the Communications Act 2003 insertâ
  
  :â(5A) It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of State toâ
  
  :(a) specify the conditions under which concessions are entitled, and
  
  :(b) provide the BBC with necessary funding to cover the cost of concessions, and this responsibility shall not be delegated to any other body.â
  
  The rejected new clause was accompanied by the following explanatory note:
  
  :This new clause seeks to enshrine in statute that it should be the responsibility of the Government to set the entitlement for any concessions and to cover the cost of such concession. This new clause will ensure the entitlement and cost of over-75s TV licences remain with the Government. It would need to be agreed with [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2016-2017/0087/cbill_2016-20170087_en_9.htm#pt6-pb4-l1g76 Clause 76] not standing part of the Bill.
  
  Clause 76 provided for the BBC to determine any TV licence concessions, within the parameters set. 
  
  ==
  
  * [1] [https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/digitaleconomy.html Parliament's webpage on the Digital Economy Bill]
  
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  