TELEVISION LICENCES IN STUDENT RESIDENCES

Early day motion 2318, tabled 7 June 2006 by Julie Morgan (Labour). Signed by 80 members.

That this House notes that every student who owns a television in a hall of residence or university-owned student accommodation is required to own a television (TV) licence; further notes that in halls of residence a single licence taken out by the managers covers the use of all television sets installed in communal areas, but not in individual rooms; further notes the TV licence regime for hotels whereby establishments pay one full fee for up to 15 rooms with televisions installed, with an additional full fee for every extra five rooms or less; further notes the particular circumstances faced by students, including the possibility that they may reside in shared accommodation with many other individuals who each have to pay a full fee for a TV licence; further notes the long periods of time students spend away from their university accommodation, particularly during holiday periods, and the financial difficulties for students living on small fixed incomes; and therefore welcomes Welsh Labour Students' campaign, which calls on the Government to review students' contributions to the licence fee and to establish a regime for halls of residence and shared accommodation in common with that for hotels, thereby lowering the average cost of a student's TV licence.

Signatures by party: Labour 58, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 7, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1.