7 AUGUST 1976, Page 11

Licence fee

Sir: It is hoped that the Annan Committee will recommend the abolition of the BBC licence fee devised half a century ago for very different circumstances. If the Corporation wishes to continue its obsessions such ec the Olympics, Wimbledon, Horse of the Year, Test Match, football manias and the constant drip-feed of low IQ imported

television programmes, let it do so at its own expense and earn its own living. If it has not the wit to devise the means to do so, then let someone else who has take over.

The maximum cynicism appeared to be reached on the 9 a.m. Radio 4 news bulletin for Sunday 25 July, when after devoting several minutes to the Olympic Games as the major news item, a short reference was made to the disaster trapping 500 refugees under the bombarded collapsed building in Beirut.

H. Birtles 8, Parke Road, London SW13