§ 86. Mr. Sharpasked the Postmaster-General what is the approximate cost of operating the television service; to what extent this is met by revenue obtained from television licences; and when it is expected that the service will be self-supporting.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingI understand from the B.B.C. that the cost of operating the television service chargeable to revenue account during the financial year 1947–48 was about£700,000, including depreciation on capital. The gross revenue from television licences for the same period was£91,128. I cannot forecast when receipts will balance expenditure, but the number of television licences has more than doubled since last Christmas.