§ 22. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Postmaster-General if he will amend the regulations governing wireless licences so as to allow the holder of a television licence to surrender it, or to revert to a licence for sound radio only, and to obtain a rebate for the unexpired part of the period for which the television licence was issued.
§ Mr. JohnsonMay I ask my hon. Friend if it would be possible to allow rebates on these licences in the same way as they are allowed on motor-car licences? What is the particular difficulty?
§ Mr. ThompsonThere are two difficulties. The Wireless Telegraphy Act, under which the licences are issued, does not permit us to make rebates. Secondly, my right hon. Friend has to take into account the fact that there are about 15 million wireless licences in existence, and we have to keep the system for handling them as simple as possible.