§ 90. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that since 1951 the radio and television licence duty 142W has risen by 178 per cent.; and whether he will take some action to restore this duty to its 1951 level.
§ Mr. BevinsNo. The increase of 178 per cent. referred to is the increase in the total amount of broadcast receiving licence revenue collected by the Post Office and paid into the Exchequer in the years stated. Since 1951 there has been no change in the sound broadcasting licence fee. The combined sound and television licence fee has been increased by 50 per cent. from £2 to £3; the total cost to the public, which includes the £1 Excise duty introduced in 1957, has risen from £2 to £4, an increase of 100 per cent.