§ 2. Miss Fookesasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will take steps to alter the present television licensing system so that any person acquiring a colour set in place of a black and white one may continue to use the lower cost licence until its expiry.
§ Sir J. EdenThere would seem to be no justification for doing so.
§ Miss FookesWill my right hon. Friend explain why the Post Office finds it 928 administratively easy to collect extra money for a licence yet administratively impossible to refund part of the cost of a licence when people change from colour to black and white or give up television altogether?
§ Sir J. EdenThe first point that has to be borne in mind is the statutory position. It is a matter of law, not of cost or operational convenience, that a colour licence is needed for colour reception. That is the point to which my hon. Friend's Questions was directed.
§ Mr. Russell KerrNot a very good answer.