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

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.