The Government was wrong to make the BBC decide if over-75s should receive free TV licences, the Conservative former culture minister has said.

Ed Vaizey, who left the Tory frontbench in July after six years, called for ministers to retain the decision-making power on the policy as they pushed forward proposed legislation which transfers it to the corporation.

READ MORE: Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc to quit as Great British Bake Off hosts

The longest-serving arts minister in British political history said it is right the BBC funds the £700 million-a-year cost of free licences to the elderly from 2020.

He explained during the second reading of the Digital Economy Bill: "I actually did have a huge amount of sympathy for what (Labour MP Chris Bryant) was talking about in terms of the free TV licences being imposed on the BBC.

"It has nothing to do by the way with Rupert Murdoch and everything to do with saving money on the welfare bill.

"But I do actually think it is wrong that we're leaving the decision on free television licences to the BBC.

"I think it should be a decision for the Government.

READ MORE: Sue Perkins urges 'quintessentially BBC' Bake Off against move to Channel 4

"There are plenty of ways of updating how the free television licence currently works and refining how it works without actually getting rid of it, and I think the Government should now take back not the costs of the free TV licence but certainly responsibility for the policy."

He added: "I also have some concerns as Ofcom takes on BBC regulation that if it takes on the regulation for BBC websites we will see press regulation by the back door because the press has been very assiduous in keeping its websites away from becoming quasi-broadcasting sites and therefore regulated by Ofcom.

"So we must be cautious as Ofcom regulates the BBC that we don't inadvertently bring in statutory regulation of the press, which I would oppose."

READ MORE: Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc to quit as Great British Bake Off hosts

Earlier, former minister Mr Bryant said it was wrong to make the BBC pay for free licences for over-75s.

He said: "It was wholly inappropriate.

"Even more importantly the bit that is in this Bill breaches the fundamental independence of the BBC because it turns the BBC into an arm of the Department of Work and Pensions.

"I think that is to be wholly deprecated and I think in time the Government will regret this.

"There's an element of cowardice in it because if the Government wants to get rid of the free television licences then they should do it themselves.

"It should be a manifesto commitment in a general election and then they should proceed."

Mr Bryant added: "The whole deal happened after a meeting between the former Chancellor (George Osborne) and Rupert Murdoch."

Huw Merriman, Tory MP for Bexhill and Battle, said the BBC would have to find an extra £750 million as a result of funding these licences.

He added: "Those who bemoan the loss of the British Bake Off to Channel 4 need to understand the environment in which the BBC is now operating in.

"With a requirement under the charter renewal to outsource all programme-making, this is only going to reoccur.

"I regret the BBC is having to fund a policy which was devised by the party opposite as an election giveaway, and is now deemed politically infeasible to withdraw from.

"It should not be for a public broadcaster to deliver welfare. If it is not welfare, we should question why it exists in these times of austerity."

Mr Merriman also called for stronger rules around free-to-air sporting events.

He said the current rules state 95% of households must be able to watch the events on their television.

But Mr Merriman said many people were not watching television in the same way anymore, with many different streaming services now available.

He added that a subtle change in the rules around free-to-air, so that 95% of people were capable of watching, could be a better solution long term.

He added: "These events allow our nation to come together and be inspired by the finest athletes, sportsmen and sportswomen.

"To put this in context, 13 million watched the Wimbledon final. Less than a million watched the Open golf and our cricketers beating Pakistan on paid TV.

"More than 45 million of our nation watched the Rio Olympics. When considering the health and well-being benefits this inspiration can bring, it concerns me that the current rules protecting free-to-air may need an update to maintain the current regime."