Overview

This bill aims to decriminalize non-payment of the BBC television licence fee in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Instead of a criminal offense, non-payment will become subject to a civil penalty.

Description

The core change introduced by the BBC Licence Fee (Civil Penalty) Bill is the amendment of Section 363 of the Communications Act 2003. This section currently makes non-payment of the licence fee a criminal offence. The bill replaces "guilty of an offence" with "liable to a civil monetary penalty" throughout the relevant sections. A new subsection (4) is added, specifying that the civil penalty will be a fixed amount not exceeding double the cost of the licence fee. The Secretary of State will have the power to create regulations for the transition, which will need approval from both Houses of Parliament.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not directly addressed in the text. The change from criminal prosecution to a civil penalty may reduce the cost of enforcement for the government, although the potential savings aren't quantified.

Groups Affected

This bill primarily affects:
• **Individuals who do not pay their TV licence:** They will no longer face criminal prosecution but will instead be liable for a civil penalty.
• **The BBC:** The BBC's revenue model, partially dependent on licence fee income, may be affected by changes in collection efficiency.
• **The Courts and Law Enforcement Agencies:** These agencies will experience a reduction in workload related to prosecuting licence fee evasion.

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