§ 8. Mr. J. Howardasked the Postmaster-General what is his estimate of the number of television sets currently in use and what is the present number of television licence holders.
§ Mr. BevinsNearly 12 million combined sound and television licences were in force on the 31st March, 1962. No doubt more sets are in use, because some people have more than one set, and others illegally use sets without a licence. 203 How many of the latter there are I can not estimate, but I am continuously trying to reduce the number.
§ Mr. HowardWhat steps are being taken to reduce the difference, by way of detector vans and so on, and can my right hon. Friend give an idea of how much revenue is being lost to his Department by pirates?
§ Mr. BevinsWe are continuously trying to track down cases of this sort. It is not possible to say how many people are evading the licence fee, but I can tell my hon. Friend that last year the Post Office launched about 13,000 successful prosecutions.