Television Licence Fees

HL Deb 26 October 2000 vol 618 cc59-60WA

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they will announce the television licence fees that will come into force next year. [HL4379]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

On 21 February this year my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced the Government's conclusions on the recommendations of the independent review panel on the future funding of the BBC. In addition to a range of measures designed to improve BBC efficiency and accountability, the Government introduced a new funding formula which provides for changes in the licence fee of RPI plus 1.5 per cent for each year from 2000–01 to 2006–07. This formula will enable the BBC to provide a strong and distinctive schedule of benchmark quality programmes and remain at the forefront of the development of digital broadcasting services.

Application of the RPI figure of 3.3 per cent for the year to September 2000, plus 1.5 per cent, to the current unrounded licence fees produces new rounded totals of £109 for a colour licence and £36.50 for a black and white licence. The new licence fees will come into force on 1 April 2001. The necessary regulations to bring these fees into force will be laid before the House in due course.