§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants are employed exclusively on administering broadcasting receiving 6W licence revenue; what is his estimated annual cost of administering these licences; and what is their estimated gross yield for the current financial year.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonSeven civil servants in the Home Office and 700 Post Office employees in the National Television Licence Records Office are employed exclusively on administering the broadcast receiving licensing system. The estimated cost for 1975–76 of administering the licensing system is £18.5 million and the total estimated revenue £227 million.
§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are any circumstances in which a rebate is granted by his Department on a television licence in the event of such a licence being returned before the end of the 12-month period.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 13th October to a Question by the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. Howell).—[Vol. 897, c.580–1.]
§ Mr. George Gardinerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take special steps to refund automatically the higher television licence fees obtained by the illegal revocation or by the threat of revocation of licences that were taken out before 1st April by those whose existing licences had not expired; and whether he will issue an apology to all those licence holders who have been inconvenienced by his Department's handling of this matter.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI hope to make a full reply on all these matters tomorrow.