Television Licences (Non-Payment)

HC Deb 19 July 1976 vol 915 cc338-9W

Mr. Lawrence

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue lost in 1976 through non-payment of television licences; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John

The question of evasion is kept under continuous review by a joint working party of the Home Office, Post Office and British Broadcasting Corporation on the administration of the broadcast receiving licence system. The estimates based on the latest available information suggests that some 850,000 households are now using television sets without the appropriate television licences and that the loss of revenue is of the order of £7.5 million a year. All possible steps are being taken to reduce these evasion figures.