§ Sir John WheelerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1992.
§ Mr. Peter LloydOn 14 January 1991, at column379, my right hon. Friend announced that the fee increase for April 1991, which was set at 3 per cent. below RPI, would be followed by annual increases at RPI over the subsequent four years. The operation of this formula would however be reassessed in 1994.
537WLicence fee increases are based on the annual increase in RPI as at the preceding September, in the same way as rises in pensions and other state benefits. Application of this year's September RPI figure of 4.1 per cent. to the current unrounded fees produces new rounded totals of £80 for a colour licence and £26.50 for a monochrome licence. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force next April will be laid before the House in due course.