§ 70. Mr. Benn Levyasked the Minister of Information if he will consider making arrangements with the Ministry of National Insurance whereby wireless licences would be granted to applicants who contract to add an extra 5d. weekly to their National Insurance contributions.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonThis idea is not without its attractions, but I have been advised that the additional staff and expenditure involved for putting this scheme into operation would outweigh its advantages.
§ Mr. LevyIs my right hon. Friend aware of the great number of people who are willing to pay 10s. a year who do in fact find it very difficult to lay their hands on 20s. at any one time? Has 'he any other possible scheme in mind?
§ Mr. MorrisonI do not accept that the difficulty is as great as my hon. Friend suggests. We have looked at every alternative, including the half-yearly payments, but that would involve a substantial additional staff to the collecting organisation and about£250,000 for collection. Therefore, we reluctantly felt that we must reject that alternative.
§ Captain CrookshankIs not the Lord President aware that there is a perfectly good system of small savings available by savings stamps through the Post Office?
§ Mr. MorrisonThat is an alternative to my hon. Friend's suggestion which it is certainly fair for the public to consider.
§ Flight-Lieutenant HaireWill my right hon. Friend agree that if everybody paid for his licence who is liable to pay for it there would be no need to increase the charge at all?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo, Sir, I do not. The Post Office is much more clever at finding sinners than my hon. Friend thinks.
§ Mr. J. Langford-HoltIn view of the very unsatisfactory replies on the whole question of wireless licences, I should like to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.