Overview

This bill establishes an independent BBC Licence Fee Commission to recommend the level of the BBC licence fee from April 1st, 2022 onwards. The Commission will conduct public and parliamentary consultations before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State, who will then decide whether to accept it, publishing their reasons if they reject it.

Description

The bill creates the BBC Licence Fee Commission, an independent body tasked with recommending the appropriate level of the BBC licence fee. This recommendation will cover the funding for the BBC from April 1st, 2022, and subsequent periods.

Before making its recommendation, the Commission must undertake a comprehensive public consultation, gathering views on suitable BBC funding levels. A report detailing the findings of this consultation will be presented to both Houses of Parliament.

The Secretary of State will consider the Commission's recommendation when setting the funding settlement. If the recommendation is rejected, the Secretary of State must publicly explain their reasoning.

The bill applies to the whole of the United Kingdom and comes into force two months after it is passed.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly allocate any specific government spending. Its impact on government spending will depend entirely on the recommendations made by the BBC Licence Fee Commission and the subsequent decisions made by the Secretary of State regarding the level of the licence fee.

Groups Affected

Groups potentially affected include:

• The BBC: The level of funding received directly impacts the BBC's operations and programming.
• TV Licence payers: The licence fee level directly affects their cost.
• The public: The consultation process allows for public input on BBC funding and thus influences the future of the BBC.
• Parliament: Parliament reviews the Commission's report and has a role in scrutinizing the process.
• The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: They have the ultimate responsibility for approving the funding settlement.

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