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18/03/2014
New TV Licence Law To End Criminal Offence In Motion
Ministers have agreed to include a proposal to end the criminal offence of failing buy a TV licence in an amendment to the Deregulation Bill on 25th March.
The decision comes after the suggestion of Tory MP Andrew Bridgen's to make non-payment a civil matter gained the support of 143 MPs.
About 155,000 people were convicted of non-payment of the TV licence in 2012 and 48 went to prison for not paying subsequent fines. The BBC said it fears the law change may lead to more people failing to pay the tax.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: "Legislation is a matter for the government. However, changing the law could lead to higher evasion. Just a 1% increase in evasion would lead to the loss of around £35m, the equivalent of around 10 BBC local radio stations."
(CVS/CD)
The decision comes after the suggestion of Tory MP Andrew Bridgen's to make non-payment a civil matter gained the support of 143 MPs.
About 155,000 people were convicted of non-payment of the TV licence in 2012 and 48 went to prison for not paying subsequent fines. The BBC said it fears the law change may lead to more people failing to pay the tax.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: "Legislation is a matter for the government. However, changing the law could lead to higher evasion. Just a 1% increase in evasion would lead to the loss of around £35m, the equivalent of around 10 BBC local radio stations."
(CVS/CD)
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