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

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 2003[^f00001] (“the Act”), including as extended by the Communications (Isle of Man) Order 2003[^f00002].

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

Citation, commencement and extent

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.

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

2

• (1) Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 (simple payment plan licence (not black and white only))[^f00003] is amended as follows.

• (2) In paragraph 19(1A)[^f00004], for “D” substitute “E”.

• (3) In paragraph 20(2)[^f00005]—

• (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)[^f00006] 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[^f00007] 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.

Signed

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)

Explanatory Note

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.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2003 c. 21.

[^f00002]: 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.

[^f00003]: S.I. 2004/692. Part 4 of Schedule 2 was inserted by S.I. 2018/339 and extended to the Isle of Man by S.I. 2021/227.

[^f00004]: Paragraph 19(1A) was substituted by S.I. 2020/160.

[^f00005]: Paragraph 20(2) was amended by S.I. 2021/227.

[^f00006]: Paragraph 20(3A) was inserted by S.I. 2020/160.

[^f00007]: The definition of “a debt advice charity” was amended by S.I. 2020/160 and S.I. 2021/227.