§ 15. Mr. Jannerasked the Assistant Postmaster-General why the official cards asking for the renewal of wireless and television licences and giving the manner in which cheques or postal orders should be made payable contain no reference to the amount to be paid for the licence.
§ Mr. GammansThe amount was left off deliberately last year because of the large numbers of cards involved and the possibility of an increased licence charge this year. Next year the figure will be reintroduced.
§ Mr. JannerDoes not the Minister realise that it is a silly thing to send out a demand without putting in the amount which he is demanding, so that people will know how much they are to pay?
§ Mr. GammansI said that I would correct that next year. It would have been much sillier to send out a lot of old licence cards with £2 on them and then have to alter that to £3.
§ 19. Mr. Hoyasked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many wireless and television licences were issued in Edinburgh and Leith during 1953.
§ Mr. GammansFor the Edinburgh head office district, which includes Leith, the figures were about 136,000 for sound reception only and about 17,500 for sound and television.
§ Mr. HoyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that one-third out of each of these licences is paid to the Performing Rights Society, which now receives an annual payment of over £700,000 from the B.B.C., and would he agree to look into the matter?
§ Mr. GammansThat is raising a Question entirely different from the original one. I think that the hon. Gentleman must put it down on the Order Paper if he would like me to give an answer to it.