HC Deb 20 May 1953 vol 515 cc2049-51
20. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of television sets in use in the United Kingdom at the latest convenient date, for which licences have been obtained and paid for; and what is the annual rate of increase of such sets, in each of the next five years, that has been assessed by his Department when formulating plans for building new television stations and obtaining capital investment sanction for these new stations, including boosters.

Mr. Gammans

On 31st March, 1953, the number was 2,142,452. So far as can be assessed, growth in television licences in the next few years will be at the rate of about 600,000 a year; but there are many factors, apart from the number of licences, which go to determine the amount of capital investment which the B.B.C. may be allowed to incur for development.

Mr. Nabarro

Can my hon. Friend assure the House that he is watching trends in overseas countries in this matter? Is he aware that the number of television sets in the City of Chicago is now reputed to exceed the number of telephones and bath-tubs there, and what deductions does he draw from these extraordinary sociological trends?

Mr. Gammans

That is a prospect which fills me with undiluted horror.

21. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many television licences have been bought in the United Kingdom in the 12 months ended 30th April, 1953; how many sets were in use on that date; whether he has formed an estimate as to the extent of evasion of payment for television licences; and what steps he is taking to prevent such malpractices.

Mr. Gammans

About 700,000. It is not possible to say precisely how many sets are in use at any time, but we estimate that some new sets may be in use for a month or so before the buyers take out their licences. With regard to evasion generally, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the reply to his next Question.

Mr. Nabarro

Can my hon. Friend clarify one point? With whom does the responsibility rest for apprehending evasion of payment for a television licence? Is it with the police or is it with the officers of his Department?

Mr. Gammans

The G.P.O. is responsible for the collection of radio and television licences.

Mr. Lewis

Here again could the Minister consider issuing all the retailers with the appropriate application form so that when they sell the set they will sell it with a registered number which can be returned to his Department, which could probably pay a commission because it would pay the Department to get the money in that way?

Mr. Gammans

That interesting suggestion has been considered. The difficulty is that the only way to make it workable would be to make it compulsory, and that would mean the introduction of legislation.

22. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General the practice of his Department in regard to the initiation of action against persons owning household or car-borne wireless sets and household television sets for which licences have not been purchased; what is the assessed number of persons evading payment for licences; what is the assessed loss of revenue annually; and what further action he contemplates, notably in connection with car-borne radio sets, which are rapidly increasing in numbers.

Mr. Gammans

There is no reason to believe that wilful evasion of radio and television licences is either widespread or increasing. No reliable estimate can be given of the number of evasions, but the continued use of modern means of detection, which now include special television detection vans, should gradually reduce evasion. As regards sets fitted in cars, it is too early to estimate the effect of the new arrangement with the Ministry of Transport, about which I gave information to my hon. Friend on 21st January.

Mr. Nabarro

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that millions of man hours are being wasted every year by requiring persons who own motor vehicles with radio sets in them to tax their motor vehicles at one Government office and then to go round to the Post Office to buy a radio licence for it? Is it not possible to amalgamate these functions and sell a radio licence with a car at the same time as the motor car is up for taxing?

Mr. Gammans

The application form which the owner of a motor car is now called upon to fill in before he takes out his annual or quarterly licence contains an item asking him if he has a radio fitted to his car, and if so, does he realise that it has to be licensed. I would like to see how that will work—I think myself it will be successful—before we go further.