TREATMENT BY TV LICENSING OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OWN TELEVISION SETS

Early day motion 1289, tabled 18 April 2007 by Gary Streeter (Conservative). Signed by 60 members.

That this House notes with concern that despite not owning or using a television set over one million people (two per cent. of the population) nonetheless receive letters from TV Licensing demanding information and a response to prove non-use; is concerned that in the absence of any such response such citizens receive further chasing letters intimidating in tone; recognises that there are many constantly reported cases of non-TV owners being distressed by such threatening letters; is further concerned that these letters are sent without any evidence that a TV is owned; notes that Capita plc, the company that operates the collection of the TV licence fee for the BBC, reported a 22 per cent. jump in profits before tax in 2004 to £148 million and a further jump in 2005 by 19 per cent. to £177 million; and calls upon TV Licensing to introduce a new system for collecting licence fees that is more sensitive to those citizens who legitimately choose not to have a television; and further calls upon TV Licensing to be required to use sophisticated non-intrusive detection technology which they presently refuse to use as they consider it more cost effective to harass innocent non-television owning citizens by unsupportable threatening letters.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 17, Conservative 8, DUP 4, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.