§ Mr. CoeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will announce the television licence fees which will take effect from 1 April 1996. [3911]
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to his reply, 30 November 1995, Official Report, c. 818]: After further detailed scrutiny, an administrative error has come to light regarding the rounding of the figure for the new colour television licence fee payable from 1 April 1996. As a result of this additional review, licence fee payers will now have to pay only £89.50 for a colour television licence rather than the £90 initially announced.
This change will not affect the BBC's ability to provide its wide range of television and radio services. The BBC's own financial planning should already have anticipated the level of funding that it could expect in the financial year 1996–97.
This announcement does not affect the new black and white television licence fee, which will be £30 from 1 April 1996. The necessary regulations will be laid before the House in due course.