§ 10. Sir. G. Nabarroasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement on reducing losses arising from television licence evasion between 1964 and 1971, and the progress of discovery and apprehension of malefactors.
§ Mr. ChatawayAt 31st March, 1964 the estimated number of television licence evaders was nearly 1½ million. Evasion reached a peak of over two million in September, 1966, but by 31st December, 1970 the numbers had fallen to about 800,000 owing to the efforts of the Post Office and my Department.
§ Sir G. NabarroDoes my right hon. Friend recognise that last June he inherited a position in which the loss on account of evasion of radio and television licences combined was running at about £10 million per annum? Would he now quantify in financial terms what is the loss of revenue on account of his failure to apprehend 800,000 malefactors in this context?
§ Mr. ChatawayIt would be nearly £5 million.
§ Sir G. NabarroI thank my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. ChatawayAs a result of the efforts that have been made in the last few months, I think the figure has been reduced by about £1 million.
§ Sir G. NabarroA jolly good answer.
§ Mr. Greville JannerCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the 800,000 evaders are retirement pensioners, chronic sick or other people who could not afford the licence fee?
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir; I do not have that information. It would be very difficult to obtain.
§ Mr. Will GriffithsWill the right hon. Gentleman say how he arrives at the estimates given in his reply to the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro), so that we may evaluate his efforts?
§ Mr. ChatawayThe Post Office and my Ministry have over the years developed techniques for estimating the number of television households. From that number is deducted the number of licences.