HC Deb 21 January 1953 vol 510 cc179-81
12 and 17. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General (1) the number of motor car radio licences for which payment was collected by his Department in 1952; how this number compares with the number of motor car radios in use; how many owners of motor car radios thus evaded payment; and what steps he is taking to collect arrears of payments for such licences;

(2) if he will consult with the Minister of Transport to devise measures to ensure that a motor car radio licence is held by all persons seeking to tax or to re-tax any motor car to which a radio set is fitted.

Mr. Gammans

The number of licences current on 31st December last for radio sets fitted in cars was approximately 173,000, an increase of some 66,000 during the year. It is impossible to give exact figures of the number of cars fitted with radio for which the licence fee has not been paid, but there has clearly been considerable failure in the past to take out such licences, no doubt due to ignorance rather than direct evasion.

I am glad to inform the House that, in addition to the extensive propaganda which has gone on in the past year, a note setting out the wireless licensing requirement has, with the co-operation of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport, been sent out with motor car licences, and motorists are being asked when applying for vehicle licences to declare whether or not their vehicle is fitted with a radio set, and if it has been licensed separately.

Mr. Nabarro

Is my hon. Friend aware that it is reliably estimated that the owners of 50 per cent. of all the vehicles fitted with radios at present on the road have not paid for a radio licence; and as the number of cars already fitted with radios now coming from the manufacturers is increasing month by month, is not the moment propitious to reorientate the whole of the arrangement with a view to putting a stop to the widespread evasion that is going on at present?

Mr. Gammans

I do not think there are any reliable figures of the numbers who have not bought their licences, but I suggest that we have not done so badly in the last year by getting in another 66,000. However, there is now no excuse for a motorist not knowing that he is required to take out such a licence, because when he signs the form for his car licence he has to say whether he has a radio fitted to the vehicle and if so if it is licensed. I hope that will have an effect in the coming year.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us when this was introduced? I signed a form for a car licence a fortnight ago, and I saw nothing on it about a radio licence.

Mr. Gammans

That may be merely because an old form was issued to the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

Would my hon. Friend consult with his right hon. and learned Friend at the Home Office to see if, when the police ask a motorist for his driving licence, they can also ask for the car radio licence, when it is obvious that a radio is fitted to the vehicle?

Mr. Gammans

That is a question which has been considered from time to time, but I think there are certain grave objections to increasing the responsibilities of the police in this direction.

Mr. E. L. Mallalieu

Will not the hon. Gentleman bow to his party's obvious wish for a few more "snoopers"?

Sir I. Fraser

In view of the statement of the Minister that when a car licence is applied for information is required about a wireless licence, is the car licence refused if a wireless licence has not been taken out?

Mr. Gammans

No, Sir, I do not think it is, but that is a question of which I should like notice.

Mr. S. Silverman

In view of the fact that one radio licence covers all one's equipment in a house—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—I think it does, and in view of the obvious difficulty of enforcing the requirement of a separate licence for a motor car radio, would the Minister consider whether the law might be amended so as to include the car radio with any other domestic radios covered by the one licence?

Mr. Gammans

All the radios in a house are not necessarily covered by the one licence. The hon. Gentleman's proposal would result in a noticeable loss of revenue to the B.B.C. which I think would be very serious.