§ 55. Mr. Crawshawasked the Postmaster-General whether, in the forthcoming legislation dealing with the evasion of television licences, he intends to increase the penalty the court can impose on conviction.
§ Mr. Edward ShortYes. The Bill will provide for a very substantial 135W increase in the amount of the fines to which evaders will he liable.
§ 59. Captain W. Elliotasked the Postmaster-General whether he will make regulations enabling the general public to take out a television licence for periods of less than 12 months.
§ Mr. Edward ShortNo. To allow licences to be issued for periods of less than 12 months would add significantly to working costs and could lead to increased evasion. Licence holders would have to pay more to meet the increased costs.
§ 70. Sir G. de Freitasasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that 2,438,248 television licences are held in the Midland Region and that the number per 100 families is 83.50; and whether he will state the number of television licences, and the number per 100 families, in Northamptonshire.
§ Mr. Joseph SlaterI cannot give, in a form which would be directly comparable with the figures my right hon. Friend has quoted, the full range of information for which he asks. On 31st December, some 150,000 television licences were held in postal districts of which the head offices are in Northamptonshire.