Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to regulate further ultra-short lets.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Her Majesty’s Government committed in the Tourism Recovery Plan published in June last year to consult on a possible Short-Term Accommodation Registration Scheme in England. A call for evidence as the first stage of that consultation process was opened on 29 June and runs until 21 September.
We want to hear from a wide range of people in order to build a much-needed evidence base on these issues and enable us to develop proportionate policy responses. We want to strike a balance between the benefits of the sharing economy and the concerns about the impacts on some communities, alongside ensuring consistency of quality among different tourism accommodation providers.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to decriminalise the non-payment of the BBC licence fee by senior citizens.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
A government response on the issue of decriminalisation of TV licence evasion was published earlier this year. The responses to the consultation show that a significant number of people oppose the criminal sanction with some highlighting the considerable stress and anxiety it can cause for individuals, including the most vulnerable in society, such as older people.
The government is therefore keeping the issue of decriminalisation under active consideration while more work is done to understand the impact of alternative enforcement schemes.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement from Annabel Denham, the Director of Communications at the Institute for Economic Affairs that after 75 years the BBC licence is “no longer fit for purpose” and should be replaced by a “subscriber-owned mutual.”
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government has committed to maintain the licence fee funding model for the duration of this 11 year Charter period, until 2027.
We will revisit the licence fee model in advance of the next Charter.
The government is committed to ensuring that the BBC and all public service broadcasters adapt to a fast changing market, and keeping them at the heart of our world class TV sector.
The BBC has already committed to consider how alternative funding models, such as subscription, could supplement licence fee income before the next Charter Review.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ban charities from using street fundraisers.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Ordinarily, street fundraising is estimated to raise over £130m each year for charities. It is a popular form of fundraising for some charities as it recruits long-term supporters to the charity and builds awareness of the important work they do. The charity's trustees are responsible for monitoring all types of fundraising for their charity and for taking steps to address any methods that present a reputational risk or prove a poor investment for their charity. Charity fundraising in England and Wales is subject to independent self-regulation by the Fundraising Regulator. The Fundraising Regulator promotes best practice in fundraising and compliance with its Code of Fundraising Practice.
During this difficult time, ensuring charities can safely begin fundraising activities will be a crucial part of the sector’s recovery. DCMS has worked closely with its sectors to publish guidance relating to COVID-19. This includes practical guidance and resources from the Fundraising Regulator and Chartered Institute of Fundraising supporting charities to safeguard the public, staff and volunteers as they plan to return to fundraising activities in a safe and responsible way. This can be viewed at;
There are no plans to ban charities from using street fundraisers.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to decriminalise non-payment of the TV licence.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We believe that it is right to look again at whether the criminal sanction remains appropriate for TV licence fee evasion given ongoing concerns about whether the criminal sanction is unfair and disproportionate. On 5 February 2020, the Government launched a public consultation on decriminalising TV licence evasion, closing on 1 April after receiving over 150,000 responses. We will listen carefully to those that have responded before setting out our next steps.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 13 June (HL16067), what action they are taking to prevent third parties from misleading BBC customers and such customers incurring unnecessary costs.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee, not the Government. Third party sites offering TV Licensing services are not endorsed by TV Licensing and customers are always advised to contact TV Licensing directly or go to the official site at www.tvlicensing.co.uk. Further information is available to the public on the official TV Licensing website at https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ312
However, the Government expects the BBC to consider what steps it can take to reduce the impact of these third party services where customers are being misled.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to take action against third party organisations which charge TV licence fee payers for services which are provided for free by TV Licensing.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee, not the Government. Third party sites offering TV Licensing services are not endorsed by TV Licensing and customers are always advised to contact TV Licensing directly or go to the official site at www.tvlicensing.co.uk. Further information is available to the public on the official TV Licensing website at https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ312
However, the Government expects the BBC to consider what steps it can take to reduce the impact of these third party services where customers are being misled.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any change to the consumption of TV and radio content; and whether they intend to abolish the TV licence fee.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The BBC is a world-class broadcaster and a cultural institution producing some of the best television and radio in the world. As the Secretary of State said in the House on 12 June 2019: ’the BBC is a fundamental part of the social and economic fabric of this country. It is important for people of all ages, but particularly older people who value television as a way to stay connected with the world’. The Licence Fee is part of a funding settlement agreed with the BBC as part of the Royal Charter. The Government has committed to maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC for the duration of the new 11 year Charter period, which began in 2017.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the decision by the BBC to abolish free TV licences for people over 75, whether they intend to cease to provide funding to that organisation.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The BBC is a world-class broadcaster and a cultural institution producing some of the best television and radio in the world. As the Secretary of State said in the House on 12 June 2019: ’the BBC is a fundamental part of the social and economic fabric of this country. It is important for people of all ages, but particularly older people who value television as a way to stay connected with the world’. The Licence Fee is part of a funding settlement agreed with the BBC as part of the Royal Charter. The Government has committed to maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC for the duration of the new 11 year Charter period, which began in 2017.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the BBC is charging licence payers £16.50 to record a change of address online; and whether they consider this to be a fair practice delivering value for money.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
TV Licensing does not charge customers to change their address.
However, third party websites may charge customers an additional fee for buying a TV Licence or changing details when these services are provided for free by TV Licensing. Such third party sites offering TV Licensing services are not endorsed by TV Licensing.
Customers are always advised to contact TV Licensing directly or go to the official site at www.tvlicensing.co.uk. Further information is available to the public on the official TV Licensing website at https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/faqs/FAQ312