§ 29. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of pensioners living alone who pay the television licence fee.
§ Mr. MayhewAbout 2.7 million; there are a further 1.8 million households of two people, both of whom are pensioners.
§ 31. Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, before agreeing to any proposal for increasing the level of the broadcasting licence fee, he will satisfy himself as to the contribution to the BBC's costs made by its levels of manpower efficiency.
§ Mr. MayhewThe responsibility for the way the BBC uses its resources, including manpower, lies with the board of governors, which is fully aware of the importance of efficiency. In considering the BBC's application for an increase in the television licence fees, my right hon. Friend has regard both to the needs of the corporation and to what is fair to licence fee payers; in this context the corporation's efficiency is one of the factors which he has to take into account.
§ 42. Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has had any recent discussions with the British Broadcasting Corporation about increases in the licence fee.
§ Mr. MayhewI refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to a question by the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).