§ Mr. PageTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how he proposes to refund any overpayments of ITV levy.
§ Mr. BrookeDuring the current financial year it will be necessary to make payments, via the Independent Television Commission, to independent television companies that, in the accounting period to 31 December 1992, made excess payments of levy into the Consolidated Fund. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Department of National Heritage home broadcasting vote—class XI vote 4. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £4.1 million will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.
The levy came to an end on 31 December 1992 when it was replaced by the new arrangements for Channel 3 licences laid down in the Broadcasting Act 1990.