Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

BBC Licence Fee

Thursday 13 February 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Government have committed to maintaining the licence fee funding model.
  • The Minister supports focusing on free TV licences for over-75s and introducing a payment plan for those who struggle to pay.
  • The Minister considers consulting on whether to decriminalise TV licence fee evasion and suggests exploring alternative funding models if the current system leads to prison sentences.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Eddie Hughes Con Walsall North
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Hughes inquires about the government's policy on penalties for non-payment of BBC licence fees.

Question

What is his policy on BBC licence fee penalties and payments? Does he agree that the BBC should focus on providing free TV licences for over-75s rather than criminalising customers who cannot pay?

Answer from Nigel Adams (Minister for Digital and Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government have committed to maintaining the licence fee funding model. They want to help vulnerable people who struggle to pay by introducing a simple payment plan on 1 April. The Minister agrees with focusing on free TV licences for over-75s but expresses disappointment at the BBC's decision to restrict this concession.

Answered
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Q2 John Nicolson SNP Ochil and South Perthshire
Taxation Benefits & Welfare
Context

Nicolson criticises the Government for potentially sending vulnerable pensioners to prison over non-payment of TV licences.

Question

Will the Minister commit to stepping in to cover costs for the most vulnerable, given that some poorest and most vulnerable pensioners will be hit with TV licence fee charges?

Answer from Nigel Adams (Minister for Digital and Culture, Media and Sport)

The Minister repeats his earlier answer on consulting whether decriminalisation of TV licence fee evasion should go ahead. He suggests that if the model relies on sending people to prison in 2020, other funding models might need consideration.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to cover costs for vulnerable pensioners

How: Repeating Previous Answer, Suggesting Alternative Funding Models

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