asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement about the transfer of television licence records to a computer.

More work involved in keeping television licence records and sending renewal reminders to viewers is being transferred to a computer from 1st April, 1972. From then on all licences will be of a new type and in the interests of accuracy some viewers will be asked to complete a licence application form. The computer system will be extended to the whole of the country in about four years, starting now in the London area. It is expected that the closer control of licensing made possible by the use of a computer will play a large part in reducing licence evasion.