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The Communications (Television Licensing) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2024

S.I. 2024/1330 · Made 12 December 2024

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise statutory instruments, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

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 by sections 365(1) and (4)(b) and 402(3) of the Communications Act 2003f1 (“the Act”), including as extended by the Communications (Isle of Man) Order 2003f2.

The Treasury has consented to the making of these Regulations in accordance with section 365(6) of the Act.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

2003 c. 21.

f2

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.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Amendment of Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (simple payment plan licence (not black and white only))
  3. Signature
  4. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(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.

2Amendment of Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (simple payment plan licence (not black and white only))

(1)

Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (simple payment plan licence (not black and white only))f1 is amended as follows.

(2)

In paragraph 19(1A)f2, for “D” substitute “E”.

(3)

In paragraph 20(2)f3—

(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)f4 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 charityf5 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.”.

Signature

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

Explanatory note

(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.