97. Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewingasked the Assistant Postmaster-General the number of television licences taken out in each of the last six months; and if he can give an estimate of how far the increase during some months was attributable to the activities of the Post Office detection van and the publicity given to its movements by the British Broadcasting Corporation's television newsreel.
§ Mr. GammansIn the six months ended 31st March, 1952, the number of television licences increased by approximately 500,000. This increase has no doubt been influenced by the opening of the B.B.C. stations at Holme Moss and Kirk O'Shotts, by Post Office publicity and the use of a detector van, and by publicity in the B.B.C. Television Service and the "Radio Times," but I cannot estimate how far it may be due to any particular cause. The monthly figures are as follow:
Number of television receiving licences current at the end of the month Increase during the month 1951 October … … 1,031,100 72,800 November … 1,113,000 81,900 December … 1,181,100 68,100 1952 January … 1,283,000 101,900 February … 1,385,600 102,600 March … 1,457,000 71,400 Total increase in 6 months … 498,700