HC Deb 17 December 1952 vol 509 c1375
16. Mr. Dodds

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, in view of the widespread erection of television aerials, what action is being taken to check the register of television licence holders to prevent a loss of revenue; and to what extent it has been revealed that an aerial is no guarantee that it is connected with a receiver.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. David Gammans)

The register of licences is continuously being checked and inquiries made, where necessary, and supplemented by the use of television detection vans. I have no precise information about the number of television aerials without sets, but over the country as a whole the proportion appears to be small and mainly accounted for by aerials abandoned by previous occupants of the premises or put up in anticipation of a set being installed.

Mr. Dodds

Does the Assistant Postmaster-General say that he has not had any reports about, for instance, the town of Windsor, where a big percentage of the people with aerials are without sets? Will he give an assurance that, in view of the fact that there will be in the next few months a greater incentive not to take out a television licence because of the substantial increase in fee that is coming, he will keep a particular watch on this matter?

Mr. Gammans

I did not say I had not got information. All I suggested was that I could not see why anybody should go to the trouble and expense of putting up an aerial if he did not propose to possess a set.