Mr. Ogden askedthe Postmaster-General how many persons were convicted for evasion of their requirement to have a current television licence in 1960 to 1964, respectively.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterInformation in precisely this form is not available but the numbers of convictions secured for both sound and television licence evasion were as follows:
24W
1960–61 … … … 12,918 1961–62 … … … 15,473 1962–63 … … … 24,409 1963–64 … … … 26,936 1964–65 … … … 21,599
§ Mr. Ogdenasked the Postmaster-General how much money was spent in 1964 on the detection and conviction of licence evasion; and what proportion this is of the total revenue from radio and television licences.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterIn the financial year 1963–64, the latest year for which we have figures, £412,600 was spent on licence investigation work. This represents rather less than one per cent. of the total licence revenue collected.
§ Mr. Ogdenasked the Postmaster-General what further proposals he has to reduce the evasion of the law on licensing of radio and television sets; and if those proposals include the provision that licences must be obtained before radio and television receivers may be purchased or rented by the public.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterWe are embarking on a thoroughgoing review of our measures against evasion. It is too early to say what changes would be practicable and productive.