Age Concern England Director-General‚ Gordon Lishman‚ said:

"Increases to basic bills hit older people who live on low‚ fixed incomes the hardest. The suggestion that the TV licence fee is set to increase above the rate of inflation will cause great anxiety for many poorer pensioners who are already contending with above inflation increases in council tax‚ fuel and water bills‚ and the cost of switching from analogue to digital. 

"Increases to the basic state pension are not keeping pace with rising living costs. It is a disgrace that the basic state pension is so low that older people find it a struggle to meet basic costs."

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Mel Beardon
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