asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether those people who were unable to renew their television licences on Friday 23 November and were told that they were unable to obtain them through lack of supply will be entitled to a licence at the old rate.

Anyone who was unable to renew his licence on Friday 23 November, because the post office to which he applied had run out of validations stamps or application forms, should write to the national television licence records office at Bristol BS98 ITL explaining the position. Subject to a check, a licence will be issued at the old fee or if, in the meantime, a licence at the new fee has been obtained, a refund of the difference between the old and the new fee will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the consideration he is giving to the collection of television licence fees by direct debit includes collection by automatic debit transfer where the licence holder has a National Giro account.

Yes, but the two systems are not at present compatible.