§ Mr. Hall-Caineasked the Postmaster-General what has been the approximate cost of the television service up to date; what has been the approximate revenue in respect of licences granted to owners of television sets; what is the prospective annual revenue from this source based on the number of sets now in operation; and whether it is proposed that this service shall be subsidised indefinitely out of the licence fees paid by the owners of ordinary broadcasting sets?
§ Major TryonI am informed by the British Broadcasting Corporation that the capital expenditure incurred on the television service up to the 31st December, 1936—which is the latest date for which figures are available—was £116,546, and that the revenue expenditure up to the same date, including programme, engineering and staff costs, was £128,266. In accordance with the recommendation of the Television Committee, the reception of television is, for the present, regarded as covered by the ordinary wireless receiving licence and no special television licence is required. The committee recommended that the question of introducing a special licence should be reviewed when sufficient experience has been obtained concerning the cost of the television service and of its user. This matter will be considered in due course by the Television Advisory Committee.