To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost of collecting the television licence in the latest year for which information is available. [104757]

Statutory responsibility for collecting the television licence fee rests with the BBC. The Corporation's licence fee collection costs for 2001–02, as stated in the BBC's Annual Report and Accounts, were £95.4 million. Central Government costs relating to the administration of the television licensing system in 2001–02 were £132,000.