§ Mr. Holtasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many television licence evaders were prosecuted in each of the last five years; what is the average fine imposed; and how much each year for the past five years has been paid to the Post Office for their services in connection with television licensing.
§ Mr. HurdThe number of people prosecuted for using a television set without a licence were as follows:
Year ending 31 March Number 1979 55,434 1980 49,935 1981 64,617 1982 70,580 1983 85,433 It is estimated that in 1983 the average fine was about £55 for offences involving colour sets and about £27 for offences involving monochrone sets.
Payments to the Post Office for television licensing work in the last five financial years, including VAT and adjustments for under or over payments in previous years, are as follows:
£ million 1978–79 23.3 1979–80 31.5 1980–81 28.8 1981–82 38.8 1982–83 54.3