asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will take steps to alter the present television licensing system so that any person acquiring a colour set in place of a black and white one may continue to use the lower cost licence until its expiry.

There would seem to be no justification for doing so.

Will my right hon. Friend explain why the Post Office finds it administratively easy to collect extra money for a licence yet administratively impossible to refund part of the cost of a licence when people change from colour to black and white or give up television altogether?

The first point that has to be borne in mind is the statutory position. It is a matter of law, not of cost or operational convenience, that a colour licence is needed for colour reception. That is the point to which my hon. Friend's Questions was directed.

Not a very good answer.