Television Licences: Non-payment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to decriminalise non-payment of the BBC licence fee.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock
It is important that the television licence fee has a fair enforcement regime that does not disproportionately impact vulnerable people, and the Secretary of State has discussed this issue with the BBC’s leadership.
As part of the next Charter Review, the government will engage with the BBC and others to consider how to ensure the BBC thrives well into the next decade and beyond. This will include discussions on a range of important issues, including future funding models for the BBC and their enforcement.
The Government has also laid regulations before Parliament to extend the Simple Payment Plan, to enable more households in financial hardship to pay their TV licence in flexible fortnightly or monthly installments. This is expected to come into force on 31st January 2025, subject to the regulations concluding the necessary parliamentary procedure.
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