Overview

The BBC Licence Fee (Civil Debt) Bill aims to decriminalise non-payment of the BBC television licence fee, changing it from a criminal offence to a civil one. This means that those who don't pay will face penalties rather than prosecution.

Description

This bill amends the Communications Act 2003. Specifically, it alters section 363, which currently makes non-payment of the TV licence a criminal offence. The bill replaces this with a civil offence. Instead of facing court prosecution, non-payers will be liable for a penalty charge. The exact amount of these charges will be set by the Secretary of State through regulations, which must be approved by the House of Commons. The bill applies to England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and is planned to come into effect on 1 January 2017.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to directly increase or decrease government spending. The change is primarily administrative, shifting the enforcement of non-payment from the criminal justice system to a civil debt collection system. The cost of the civil enforcement system and potential revenue loss from uncollected penalties are not provided in the bill.

Groups Affected

This bill will affect the following groups:

• TV Licence Non-payers: They will face civil penalties instead of criminal prosecution.
• The BBC: The BBC's funding model relies on licence fee revenue. The change in enforcement could potentially impact revenue collection if the new civil penalties are less effective than the previous criminal sanctions.
• The Courts and Police: The criminal justice system will see a reduction in cases related to licence fee evasion.
• Debt Collection Agencies: These agencies may be involved in pursuing non-payers for outstanding penalties.

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