§ 55. Mr. Buckasked the Postmaster-General what steps he proposes to take to enable a broadcast receiving licence to remain valid after the decease of the licence holder, with respect to apparatus owned by the deceased.
§ Mr. BennI am grateful to the hon. Member for raising this point in correspondence. I am having the departmental instructions amended to make it clear that a widow or widower is not to be asked to take out a new licence before the old one expires.
§ 74. Mrs. Joyce Butlerasked the Postmaster-General if he will make a reduction in television and radio licence fees for retirement pensioners living alone.
§ Mr. BennAs I said in answer on 30th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, East (Mr. Freeson), I have considered this suggestion very carefully. Unfortunately it would create serious anomalies, and would involve administrative costs out of all proportion to its benefits.
§ 70. Mr. John Wellsasked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to refund part of the television licence fee when the licence is cancelled for any reason after a period of less than six months or after a period of less than three months.
§ Mr. BennNo. With 16 million licences in force it would add substantially to the cost of collection if I were to vary the fee according to the extent to which the licence was used. The 97W increased cost and the loss of revenue would have to be made good by an increase in licence fees.