§ Mr. Marsdenasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is his estimate of the loss to public funds from television licence evasion in the year 1973; and how this figure compares with that for the year preceding the coming into force of the Wireless and Telegraphy Act 1967.
§ Sir J. EdenAbout £5 million, using the method of assessment which has been used hitherto. I am, however, reviewing that method. The number of evaders has been reduced by more than half since 1967, but direct comparison with 1967 in terms of revenue is not readily practicable because of changes in licence fees and licensing requirements and refinements in our methods of estimating the number of evaders.