TV LICENCES

Early day motion 2315, tabled 7 June 2006 by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour). Signed by 81 members.

That this House notes with concern the decision taken by the BBC to appoint PayPoint for a six year contract to provide a range of `over the counter' services for television licensing; recognises that this will stop post offices from providing this service at its 14,500 branches with customers no longer being able to renew their television licence at their local branch; believes that this will come as a significant blow to post offices as currently five million television viewers visit the post office to buy their television licence as this is the payment method they find most convenient; expresses concern over the impact this will have on local post office branches as many people conduct other transactions at the same time as paying for their licence; and calls on the BBC to reverse its decision for the benefit of customers and post offices alike.

Signatures by party: Labour 48, Liberal Democrat 19, DUP 5, Conservative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2.