asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he is prepared to allow payment of the £5 television licence by quarterly instalments in cases where the matter has been brought to court and the district justice is satisfied that the payment should be made in this manner.

The question of whether my Department should arrange for collection of licence fees by instalments was very carefully considered when a special licence fee was introduced in respect of television sets. The idea was, however, rejected because it would add substantially to the cost of collection. I regret that it would not be practicable to make an exception in respect of cases of the type mentioned by the Deputy.