[jambutty]

Does that mean I should ask people to produce their TV licence if the TV is on when I call at their house?

Only if the detector van happens to be near.

Suppose somebody is actually buying the TV as a gift for someone else though? They ask for the name and address of the purchaser. They don't ask you if the TV is going to be for that address do they?

Isn’t it usual when buying something as a gift for someone and it requires to be registered for a guarantee you give the name of the recipient. I do. Not that I buy many gifts these days.

now supposing we hadn't had a TV and therefore hadn't had a licence - should the person who gave us that one have reported the fact to some authority, like when you sell your car?

Only when Big Brother has finally arrived. Any year now!

In trying to cover all the angels the Licensing Authority have got themselves (and us) into a morass of legislation.