Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations increase the amount of the basic fee for television licences from £33.50 to £34.50 in the case of black and white and from £101.00 to £104.00 in the case of colour. In the case of instalment licences–
the issue fee for the premium instalment licence (which is not available in the Channel Islands) is increased from £26.50 to £27.25 with instalments increased from £26.50 to £27.25, the total amount payable being £109.00;
amendments are made in relation to the budget instalment licence so that provision is made for seventeen specified issue fees and a number of instalments thereafter but in each case the total amount payable is £104.00;
the issue fee for the easy entry licence (which is not available in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man) is increased from £3.90 to £4.00 with 25 weekly instalments of £4.00, the total amount payable being £104.00;
the easy entry licence is further amended by the introduction of an alternative issue fee of £52.00 with 13 fortnightly instalments of £4.00, the total amount payable being £104.00.
Amendments are made in relation to the accommodation for residential care composite form licence by substituting for the words “of pensionable age ” the words “aged 60 years or more”. The effect of this is to include within the scope of the provision retired persons aged 60 years or more.
The Regulations also make provision in consequence of the introduction of free television licences for those aged 75 years and over from 1st November 2000. Transitional licences will be issued to licensees who will attain the age of 75 years before 1st November 2000 and who are required to obtain a licence before that date and interim licences will be issued to licensees who will attain the age of 75 years after 31st October 2000 and less than 12 months after the date on which they are required to obtain the licence.