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Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat). It was answered on Thursday, 23 January 2020.

TV Licence Fee Enforcement

Question

My Lords, I too welcome the Secretary of State. Will she confirm that the terms of the currently BBC charter specifically rule out any change to the BBC’s mission or public purposes during the whole of its lifetime? What assurances can the Secretary of State give that no steps will be taken, including the decriminalisation of licence fee offences, which would cost £200 million a year to the BBC, that would threaten or undermine the BBC’s ability to fulfil all its charter requirements?

Answer

It is a pleasure to rejoin the noble Lord in another House of Parliament, although of course we remain on opposite sides. He is absolutely right to say that the mission of the BBC is set under the current charter. I want to say that the BBC is a very important institution to this country that produces

some outstanding programming. But, as I say, the changing broadcasting landscape means that the funding model will need to be looked at again. Decriminalisation requires primary legislation; that could be done under the existing royal charter, and, as I say, any changes will require significant consultation, which I am sure will involve many thousands of people having their say, including BBC employees and management.

Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
801 c1161 
Session
2019-21
Oral question type
Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Fees and charges Enforcement Television Licence Enforcement Review Television licences
Link
View this Oral question on hansard.parliament.uk