asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the total amount of revenue raised by the television licence system; and how much of this is produced by television colour licences;(2) if he will give details of the present rules governing the sales of television sets to the public and the subsequent sending to the television authorities of the names and addresses of buyers of such sets;(3) what estimate he has made of the amount lost yearly to the Government because of evasion of television licences.
The estimated gross television licence revenue for 1979–80 at current fees is about £385 million, of which an estimated £330 million is produced by colour television licences.The loss of revenue because of licence evasion in the current financial year is estimated to be of the order of £20 million.Under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1967 (Part I), television dealers are required to notify the national television licence records office of the details of all transactions within 28 days. The information required includes the name of the buyer or hirer, the address of the premises where the set is to be installed, the date of the transaction, whether the set is designed for reception in colour and the name and address of the dealer supplying it. Dealers are also required to keep a record of the particulars provided.