§ Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the number of English only and Welsh/ English television reminder forms, respectively, posted by the National Television Licence Records Office during the last convenient 12 months;
(2) what is the number of staff, the total annual cost and the total labour cost, of the National Television Licence Records Office;
(3) what is the total estimated cost of issuing television licences from post offices.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonOn 16th February 1976, a total of 694 Post Office staff were employed at the National Television Licence Records Office at Bristol. The estimated total cost of the Records Office for 1975–76, including its enforcement work, is £6.3 million, of which £2.2 million represents staff salaries and pensions. About 10 million English only licence reminder forms were dispatched by the Bristol Records Office in the 12 months to 1st April 1975 and it is estimated that about 18 million will be dispatched during the 12 months to 1st April 1976. Welsh/English reminder222W forms have been dispatched from Bristol only since December 1975 and it is estimated that in a full year about 900,000 will be sent out. The estimated total cost of issuing television licences from post offices for 1975–76 is £4.4 million.