HC Deb 02 May 1989 vol 152 cc22-3W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, North of 18 April,Official Report, column 91, if he will list those areas where television reminders expiring on 31 March were delayed in the post; and if he will reimburse the price increase to those persons who were therefore unable to purchase their television licences at the old price.

Mr. Renton

Reports of late delivery of renewal notices have been received from Chelmsford, Milton Keynes, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Newport, Stoke-on-Trent, Taunton and Watford.

Renewal notices are issued as a service to licence holders and are not a legal requirement. Licences can be renewed up to a month in advance at post offices or by writing to the National TV Licence Records Office and no renewal notice is required for this purpose. It would not therefore be appropriate to reimburse the price increase to licence holders who did not renew March expiry licences until after the fee had gone up.