Written question asked by Jo Cox (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 April 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 May 2016. It was answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative) on Thursday, 5 May 2016 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Television Licences: Direct Debits

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the fairness of the (a) licence fee and (b) initial overcharge for those paying the licence fee by direct debit.

Answer: The BBC's funding has been a central issue in the Charter Review process, and this has included consideration of the fairness and affordability of the licence fee, and the ways in which it can be paid. David Perry QC’s independent report on TV Licence Fee Enforcement highlighted that current payment plans, set out in regulations, inhibit the ability of TV Licensing to help those on lower incomes by offering alternative, more manageable payment schemes. The conclusions of his report have been considered as part of the wider Charter Review process, and the government's position on these issues will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.

Secondary information