§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for non-payment of televison licence fees in Warrington, Widnes, Crewe and the whole of Cheshire in 1986, 1987, 1988 and since the start of 1989.
§ Mr. John Patten[holding answer 22 May 1989]: Information available to me supplied by the national television licence records office relates to the number of prosecutions for television licence evasion by area of the television licence enquiry offices only. These area offices are based on the post code system. Information for 501W Warrington, Widnes and Crewe and the whole of Cheshire is therefore not readily available. Data for the area offices covering the county of Cheshire are as follows:
Prosecution for television licence evasion by area television licence enquiry office covering the county of Cheshire Area 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 Altrincham 2,388 3,834 4,220 5,380 Preston 4,432 5,065 5,204 4,660 Shrewsbury 1,007 1,423 2,067 2,004 Note: Figures given are for financial year (April to March).