Why hasn't TV licence fee been abolished as promised?

I recently received a reminder to pay my annual TV licence fee. After recalling that in the Budget of two years ago, we were promised that this licence fee would be abolished, I decided to call the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and...

I recently received a reminder to pay my annual TV licence fee.

After recalling that in the Budget of two years ago, we were promised that this licence fee would be abolished, I decided to call the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Communications to enquire why we are still being asked to pay it.

I also asked why such a licence was needed, especially if one is subscribed to a local cable TV service provider and not making use of free-to-air reception using a normal aerial.

The answer to my first question was that the government has still not revoked the licence so it still issues the yearly fee, while the answer to my second question was that the licence is by no means linked to the service but to the fact that one owns a TV set.

Can the ministry enlighten me as to why, in 2010, citizens are still being taxed for owning what has become a basic commodity, namely a TV set?

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