TV LICENSING FEE EVASION

That this House notes the regular issuing of press releases by TV Licensing on the extent of its success in tackling licence fee evasion in various towns and cities across the United Kingdom; expresses deep unease at the way in which this information is issued; regards as reprehensible the continuous avoidance by TV Licensing of attempts by public representatives to obtain a more open and accountable demonstration by TV Licensing of the systems they use to detect unlicensed television sets in homes; and is particularly concerned at TV Licensing's refusal to disclose the extent of evasion on a regional basis, the numbers of personnel involved in detecting unlicensed sets on a regional basis and the concentration of their efforts in various localities, which would offer some solace to the majority of people who pay their fee that efforts to track down evasion are being deployed proportionately in all areas of the United Kingdom, including areas where evasion is highest.