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Statutory Instruments
BROADCASTING
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Made
12th December 2024
Laid before Parliament
16th December 2024
Coming into force
31st January 2025
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred bysections 365(1)and(4)(b)and402(3)of the Communications Act 2003( 1) (“ the Act”), including as extended by the Communications (Isle of Man) Order 2003( 2).
The Treasury has consented to the making of these Regulations in accordance withsection 365(6)of the Act.
1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Communications (Television Licensing) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024. These Regulations come into force on 31st January 2025.
(2) These Regulations extend to—
(a) England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and
(b) the Isle of Man.
2.—(1) Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004(simple payment plan licence (not black and white only))( 3) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph 19(1A)( 4), for “D”substitute “E”.
(3) In paragraph 20(2)( 5)—
(a) for “debt advice charity”, in the first place those words occur, substitute “relevant debt advice organisation”;
(b) omit the words from “; or”to “Trading”.
(4) After paragraph 20(3A)( 6) insert—
“(3B) Circumstance E is that the person—
(a) is experiencing significant difficulties in meeting essential household expenses, and
(b) is not, immediately before the issue date, authorised under a TV licence to install or use a TV receiver. ”.
(5) In paragraph 20(4), for the definition of “a debt advice charity( 7) substitute—
““ a relevant debt advice organisation ” means an organisation that provides debt counselling, or other financial advice, to persons in financial difficulty without charge to those persons. ”.
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
12th December 2024
We consent:
Anna Turley
Jeff Smith
Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury
11th December 2024
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 ( S.I. 2004/692) to make provision that expands the scope of eligibility for the form of a TV licence known as a “ simple payment plan licence (not black and white only)” (“ simple payment licence”).
Paragraphs (3) and (5) of regulation 2 amend “Circumstance B” so that a provider of debt-related advice is not limited to being a registered charity.
Paragraph (4) of regulation 2 inserts “Circumstance E” which expands the simple payment licence to those who are experiencing financial hardship.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary sector or community bodies is foreseen.
S.I. 2003/3198, amended by S.I. 2007/278; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant. Article 6 of the Order extends sections 365(1) and (4) and 402(3) of the Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)to the Isle of Man.
S.I. 2004/692. Part 4 of Schedule 2 was inserted by S.I. 2018/339and extended to the Isle of Man by S.I. 2021/227.
Paragraph 19(1A) was substituted by S.I. 2020/160.
Paragraph 20(2) was amended by S.I. 2021/227.
Paragraph 20(3A) was inserted by S.I. 2020/160.
The definition of “a debt advice charity” was amended by S.I. 2020/160and S.I. 2021/227.