HC Deb 19 February 1973 vol 851 cc5-6
4. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what are the latest estimates of loss of revenue due to the evasion of payment of broadcasting licence fees; and what action he is taking.

Sir J. Eden

Loss of revenue is now about £5 million. I expect evasion to fall further through the continuance of present measures.

Sir G. Nabarro

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied that he is doing enough in this context? Is he aware that I have been asking the same Question every three months for the past seven years, and that the rate of progress is minute? Does not he realise that if he really set about collecting the money he would be able to afford to abate the licence fee for elderly people?

Sir J. Eden

I had hoped that perhaps on this occasion my hon. Friend would take the opportunity to welcome the downward trend and the evidence of the success of our campaign which the figures show. As he knows, wide-ranging measures are already in use. I am never satisfied that they are enough, and we are constantly seeking ways in which to improve. The assistance of dealers, especially, is to be welcomed.

Mr. Harper

Does the Minister agree that he could now abolish licences for black and white receivers? There would then be no evasion of licence fees, and there would no longer be the problem of the difference between the 5p licence fee for some old people and the £7 licence fee.

Sir J. Eden

That raises other questions of the method of financing the BBC—which is not directly for me.

Mr. Jeffrey Archer

Has my right hon. Friend any provisional figures showing how much the loss is likely to be increased by the removal of Anglia Television with the replacement of Yorkshire Television in 1974?

Sir J. Eden

There is an interesting group of Questions on Anglia Television later on the Order Paper.

Mr. Gregor Mackenzie

I shall have more to say about television licence fees on Wednesday. Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us at this stage the cost of detection and of collection of the licence fee?

Sir J. Eden

The total cost of the present licence system is about £10.5 million. That should be seen against the estimated revenue of £135 million for 1972–73.