Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

TV Licence Fee: People over 75

Thursday 6 January 2022 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister met with BBC recently to discuss enforcement of TV licence fee payments.
  • BBC confirmed no enforcement action has been taken against anyone over 75 years old.
  • Government is reviewing the issue of over-75s and the decriminalisation of TV licence fee enforcement.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Christopher Chope Con Christchurch
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP is concerned about the enforcement actions taken by the BBC against individuals aged over 75 following the decision to end free TV licences.

Question

On what date she last held discussions with the BBC on the enforcement of TV licence fee payments for people aged over 75.

Answer from Nadine Dorries

I meet the BBC regularly to discuss a range of issues, including enforcement, and I will meet the chair and director-general next week. The BBC confirmed recently that no enforcement action has been taken against anyone over 75 years of age at this stage.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The date of the last discussion with the BBC on enforcement actions

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Christopher Chope Con Christchurch
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP is questioning the reliability of the BBC's assurances about not taking enforcement action against individuals aged over 75 and suggests removing the BBC's power to enforce sanctions.

Question

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that response, but do we trust the BBC? Would it not be much better to remove the power of the BBC to enforce sanctions through the criminal law against those who are over 75 and who are supporting a policy that the Government say they also support?

Answer from Nadine Dorries

I reassure my hon. Friend that the entire issue of over-75s and decriminalisation remains very much under review and on my desk. The BBC has confirmed that no enforcement action has been taken.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The consideration of removing the BBC's power to enforce sanctions through criminal law against those over 75

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Gregory Campbell DUP East Londonderry
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP references a previous government's agreement with the BBC to fund free licence fees for over-75s in exchange for certain concessions, and questions what action is being taken now that the BBC has breached its part of the agreement.

Question

About six years ago, a previous Government entered into a two-way agreement with the BBC regarding the over-75s. The BBC's part of the agreement was that it would continue to fund free licence fees for the over-75s. The Government's part of the agreement was to agree to an increase in the licence fee and to some other aspects that advantaged the BBC. The BBC has broken its part of the agreement. What are the Government doing about our part?

Answer from Nadine Dorries

As I said in my previous answer, this is something that I am continuing to review. I reiterate that the BBC has taken no action against anyone over 75 years of age—no one.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions being taken by the government regarding the breach of the agreement

How: Under Review

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)