Television Licences (Hansard, 28 February 1991)

§ Mr. Kenneth Baker

The administration of television licences is currently governed by the 1984 Wireless Telegraphy Regulations (SI 1984/1053), as amended, which in turn cross refer to earlier United Kingdom regulations and to the radio regulations of the International Telecommunications Union. In line with standing advice from the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments, I now propose to consolidate and clarify these regulations. Subject to parliamentary approval the new regulations will take effect on 1 April 1991, the date on which the BBC is due to take over the administration of licence fee collection.

The new regulations will largely repeat in condensed form the substance of the present ones. They will also lake the opportunity to clarify several issues. First, they will make it clear that all viewers of United Kingdom television services available to the general public are liable to the television licence, irrespective of the nature of the service or the means by which it reaches the home. This will resolve uncertainties arising out of the changes to the ITU regulations and restore beyond doubt the principle that the licence fee is effectively a levy on all viewers intended to fund the BBC. The Government will be considering the long-term future of the licence itself during the review which will precede the expiry of the BBC's charter in December 1996, but is concerned that meanwhile the arrangements should be properly enforced.

The opportunity will also be taken to confirm that the licence fee is still payable if a television set is used for other purposes as well; to ensure that the special licence arrangements for hotels do not extend to long-term accommodation; and to remove the "communal facility" condition which in practice has proved unnecessary to the operation of the concessionary licence scheme for occupants of accommodation for retired pensioners and those in similar circumstances.