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| MPs back moves to decriminalise TV licence fee non-payment | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| MPs have backed plans to give the government power to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence fee. | |
| They voted in favour of an amendment to the Deregulation Bill, which could become law later this year, proposing a subsequent review of non-payment penalty options. | |
| Ministers could then decide to move to a system of civil penalties, probably around the summer of 2015. | Ministers could then decide to move to a system of civil penalties, probably around the summer of 2015. |
| The BBC has said possible financial losses could cause channels to close. | The BBC has said possible financial losses could cause channels to close. |
| The corporation, which has said it fears losses of up to £200m a year, said it would fully co-operate with any review to see if the current system could be improved. | The corporation, which has said it fears losses of up to £200m a year, said it would fully co-operate with any review to see if the current system could be improved. |
| The move has already got government backing, and Labour has signalled its likely support. | The move has already got government backing, and Labour has signalled its likely support. |
| The BBC understands that the Labour Party is calling for a system of civil penalties to be piloted before any decriminalisation change is implemented. | The BBC understands that the Labour Party is calling for a system of civil penalties to be piloted before any decriminalisation change is implemented. |
| Currently, 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. | Currently, 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. |
| Under the proposals, ministers would be allowed to replace existing sanctions with "civil monetary penalties" with no further act of Parliament required. | Under the proposals, ministers would be allowed to replace existing sanctions with "civil monetary penalties" with no further act of Parliament required. |
| 'Not a threat' | 'Not a threat' |
| Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, who has led calls for a change in the law, told a committee scrutinising the bill that people were getting a criminal record "for the only crime of being poor". | Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, who has led calls for a change in the law, told a committee scrutinising the bill that people were getting a criminal record "for the only crime of being poor". |
| The BBC, he argued, should see the move "as an opportunity not a threat" and a means of "reigniting" its links with licence fee payers rather than "subjugating" them. | The BBC, he argued, should see the move "as an opportunity not a threat" and a means of "reigniting" its links with licence fee payers rather than "subjugating" them. |
| Speaking at the same meeting, Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins said he backed the move but that any impact on the BBC's funding and its independence must be taken into account. | Speaking at the same meeting, Labour MP Kelvin Hopkins said he backed the move but that any impact on the BBC's funding and its independence must be taken into account. |
| 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". |
| The BBC's strategy director James Purnell said the present system "works pretty well" and warned the proposed change would be a "huge risk" which would increase instances of non-payment. | The BBC's strategy director James Purnell said the present system "works pretty well" and warned the proposed change would be a "huge risk" which would increase instances of non-payment. |
| But he said: "We are happy to work with government to see if it can be improved or whether there is an alternative that could be better." | But he said: "We are happy to work with government to see if it can be improved or whether there is an alternative that could be better." |
| Earlier this month, Mr Purnell warned BBC channels could close if non-payment of the licence fee was decriminalised. | Earlier this month, Mr Purnell warned BBC channels could close if non-payment of the licence fee was decriminalised. |
| Imprisoned | Imprisoned |
| The bill is currently at the committee stage and faces several more parliamentary phases before it can become law, likely to be this summer at the earliest. | The bill is currently at the committee stage and faces several more parliamentary phases before it can become law, likely to be this summer at the earliest. |
| A review of how a civil penalty would work would then have to be completed before it comes into force, probably in the summer of 2015 after the general election. | A review of how a civil penalty would work would then have to be completed before it comes into force, probably in the summer of 2015 after the general election. |
| A TV licence, which is required if a user watches or records live broadcasts on any device in the UK, currently 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, currently 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 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. | 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. |
| Currently civil penalties can be used for other issues such as if a person does not report a change in their circumstances which entitle them to claim benefits, and as a consequence end up getting overpaid. In this instance offenders are likely to be landed with a minimum £50 fine. | Currently civil penalties can be used for other issues such as if a person does not report a change in their circumstances which entitle them to claim benefits, and as a consequence end up getting overpaid. In this instance offenders are likely to be landed with a minimum £50 fine. |