§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money the National Television Licence Records Office expects to spend in the current year on sending forms to people who do not have a television to ask them why they do not have a television licence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. SummerskillIt is estimated that the National Television Licence Records Office will send some 2.8 million inquiry letters to apparently unlicensed addresses during the current year at a cost of about £450,000. Inevitably, a number of these letters will be sent to addresses at which there is no television set in use, because it is not possible to know in advance which these are. It is estimated that about 280,000 inquiry letters will be sent, at a cost of about £60,000 to addresses when it is subsequently stated that there is no set.
The cost of sending inquiry letters is more than covered by the extra revenue gained in new licences. The replies also serve to keep the licence records up to date.