§ 44. Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the total sum of money currently being spent in Scotland towards detecting users of television sets who are evading licence payment.
§ Mr. PentlandThe Post Office tells me that this information is not easily available. Throughout the United Kingdom, some £800,000 is being spent on counter-evasion measures in 1969–70.
§ Mr. EadieCan my hon. Friend confirm that the figure of detection in Scotland is not available because Scots people are more law abiding than people elsewhere?
§ Mr. PentlandI know that the Scots are very law abiding but the direct answer is that the Post Office cannot break down these figures of investigation work into areas because it obtains them by sampling methods aimed at producing the total cost and not the costs in particular areas.
§ Sir G. NabarroHaving regard to the fact that the total loss of revenue for radio and television licences is estimated at £7.5 million out of £79 million collected, is this not an inordinately high percentage? Is it not time the Minister changed the whole system, scrapped licensing altogether and attached an 31 equivalent cost to the capital cost of the machine or set itself in the first instance?
§ Mr. PentlandThat is a much wider question. If the hon. Gentleman will put it down, we will be prepared to answer it.