HC Deb 22 July 1975 vol 896 cc118-9W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the five top paid civil servants in his Department; what salaries they now receive; what they were receiving in January 1972; and what increases they have received on the stated dates since January 1972.

Mr. Roy Jenkins

The top Civil Service posts in the Home Office are at Permanent Secretary and Deputy Secretary level. The salaries for these grades at 1.1.72, 1.4.73, 1.4.74 and 1.1.75 are as follows:

delivery reminders to licence holders; and if he can estimate the saving which would be effected if this reminder were sent by ordinary letter post;

(2) how many recorded delivery reminders were sent in the last two years by the Television Licensing Organisation; and how many were subsequently found to have been sent to people who had already paid.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

The cost for the year 1974–75 of sending recorded delivery reminders to licence holders was £100,000. It is not possible to estimate the cost for the year 1975–76 because the number of final reminders that need to be sent is declining. The cost for the year 1974–75 would have been reduced by £26,000 if final reminders had been sent by second class letter post. Recorded delivery is used to ensure that the licensee receives the final reminder and is aware of his responsibility to replace his licence. 2 million recorded delivery reminders were sent in 1973–74 and 1,900,000 in 1974–75. Records are not kept of recipients who are subsequently found to have paid before the final reminders reached them.

Mr. Forrester

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that in some cases the Television Licensing Organisation cannot check that a television broadcasting licence has been bought without the co-operation of the purchaser; and if he will take steps to strengthen the collection system to deal with this problem.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

We are aware that this has been known to happen, but not often. The possibilities for further improvements in the operation of the licence system are kept under review, and the problem raised by my hon. Friend will be borne in mind.