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Labour set to back TV licence fee powers change Labour set to back TV licence fee powers change
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Labour is set to back plans to give ministers powers to decriminalise non-payment of the BBC licence fee, giving the move cross-party political support.Labour is set to back plans to give ministers powers to decriminalise non-payment of the BBC licence fee, giving the move cross-party political support.
It has already got government backing although any final decision on the issue is unlikely before the summer of 2015 at the earliest.It has already got government backing although any final decision on the issue is unlikely before the summer of 2015 at the earliest.
It is understood Labour wants any move to a system of civil penalties to be piloted before being implemented.It is understood Labour wants any move to a system of civil penalties to be piloted before being implemented.
The BBC has said a "proper review" of future options must be carried out.The BBC has said a "proper review" of future options must be carried out.
At the moment, people can be sent to jail in connection with not paying the annual licence fee, which is used to fund BBC programmes and other output.At the moment, people can be sent to jail in connection with not paying the annual licence fee, which is used to fund BBC programmes and other output.
A TV licence, which is required if a user watches or records live broadcasts on any device in the UK, costs £145.50 per year.A TV licence, which is required if a user watches or records live broadcasts on any device in the UK, costs £145.50 per year.
Those who refuse to pay face a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as the prospect of jail if fines are not paid.Those who refuse to pay face a £1,000 fine and a criminal record, as well as the prospect of jail if fines are not paid.
The BBC's political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue outlined a possible timeline:The BBC's political correspondent Gary O'Donoghue outlined a possible timeline:
Labour has signalled its likely support for the move.Labour has signalled its likely support for the move.
"We are strong supporters of the BBC but it is very difficult to justify sending someone to prison for not paying the licence fee," party sources said."We are strong supporters of the BBC but it is very difficult to justify sending someone to prison for not paying the licence fee," party sources said.
Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, who has led calls for decriminalisation, welcomed Labour's backing, saying at least 150 backbenchers also supported the idea, in addition to ministers.Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, who has led calls for decriminalisation, welcomed Labour's backing, saying at least 150 backbenchers also supported the idea, in addition to ministers.
He said "it was not a question of whether it would be decriminalised but how and when".He said "it was not a question of whether it would be decriminalised but how and when".
Under the MP's plan, ministers would be able to replace existing sanctions with "civil monetary penalties" under "statutory instrument" - meaning no further Act of Parliament was needed.Under the MP's plan, ministers would be able to replace existing sanctions with "civil monetary penalties" under "statutory instrument" - meaning no further Act of Parliament was needed.
This power could be used only during a two-year period, starting from the completion of the proposed review. After that it would require approval by both Houses of Parliament.This power could be used only during a two-year period, starting from the completion of the proposed review. After that it would require approval by both Houses of Parliament.
Court pressuresCourt pressures
With TV licensing cases accounting for 180,000 - or more than one in 10 - criminal prosecutions in 2012, ministers argue decriminalisation could ease pressure on the court system. The Ministry of Justice has said that 164,932 people were found guilty of TV licence evasion in 2012 and 51 went to prison for not paying subsequent fines.
Of those prosecuted in 2012, about 155,000 people were convicted and fined for non-payment. Mr Bridgen said this amounted to one in nine cases before magistrates' courts.
Chancellor George Osborne said the idea of decriminalisation was "very interesting" and would be looked at "closely".Chancellor George Osborne said the idea of decriminalisation was "very interesting" and would be looked at "closely".
"It is getting more and more support across the parties and you can see it's all heading in a particular direction," he told Sky News."It is getting more and more support across the parties and you can see it's all heading in a particular direction," he told Sky News.
A BBC spokeswoman said: "The BBC is content that this proposal balances a timely examination of this issue with a proper review of the options, while not taking any decisions prior to charter review." The BBC's strategy director James Purnell said the impact on magistrates' courts of the current arrangement was less than feared.
"The last fact we saw was that it took up 0.3% of [court] time because most of these cases are processed pretty quickly - about three minutes on average," he told BBC Radio 4's PM.
He said the present system "works pretty well", but added: "We are happy to work with government to see if it can be improved or whether there is an alternative that could be better."
The BBC's royal charter, which sets out the corporation's purposes and the way it is run, is reviewed every 10 years and the current one runs until the end of 2016.The BBC's royal charter, which sets out the corporation's purposes and the way it is run, is reviewed every 10 years and the current one runs until the end of 2016.
Earlier this month, the corporation's strategy director, James Purnell, warned BBC channels could close if non-payment of the licence fee was decriminalised. Earlier this month, Mr Purnell had warned BBC channels could close if non-payment of the licence fee was decriminalised.
He said it would be a "huge risk" which would increase non-payment and cost the BBC £200m a year in lost licence fee revenue.He said it would be a "huge risk" which would increase non-payment and cost the BBC £200m a year in lost licence fee revenue.