xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"

Statutory Instruments

1997 No. 290

TELEGRAPHS

The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1997

Made

11th February 1997

Laid before Parliament

12th February 1997

Coming into force

1st April 1997

The Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 1 and 2 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949(1), as they have effect in the United Kingdom and as extended by the Wireless Telegraphy (Channel Islands) Order 1952(2) and the Wireless Telegraphy (Isle of Man) Order 1952(3), and now vested in her(4), hereby, with the consent of the Treasury, makes the following Order:

Citation, commencement, revocation and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1997 and shall come into force on 1st April 1997.

(2) The Regulations specified in Schedule 1 to these Regulations are hereby revoked.

(3) These Regulations extend to the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

(a)“caravan” means any structure designed or adapted for habitation which is capable of being moved from one place to another (whether by being towed, or by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer) and any motor vehicle so designed or adapted,

(b)“touring caravan” means a caravan normally used for touring from place to place.

Meaning of Television Receiver

3.  The following class or description of television receiving apparatus is hereby specified for the purpose of the definition of “television receiver” in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949(5), namely such apparatus installed or used for the purpose of receiving television programme services, as defined by section 2(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, whether or not the apparatus is installed or used for other purposes.

Television licence fees

4.—(1) On the issue of a television licence (as defined by section 1(7) of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949) of a type specified in an entry in column 1 of Part I of Schedule 2 to these Regulations and of the description specified in column 2 of that Part in relation to that entry, there shall be paid (irrespective of the duration of the licence) as the issue fee for a licence of that type and description the sum or, as the case may be, multiples of sums prescribed in column 3 of that Part or, in the case of entry 6 in column 1 of that Part, determined in accordance with Part III of the said Schedule.

(2) On the issue of a television licence of a type specified in an entry in column 1 of Schedule 3 to these Regulations and of the description specified in column 2 of that Schedule in relation to that entry, there shall be paid (irrespective of the duration of the licence) as the issue fee for a licence of that type and description the sum which is prescribed in column 3 of that Schedule in respect of that entry and thereafter as instalment payments such sums as are so prescribed.

Duplicate licences

5.  Where a television licence has been lost or destroyed, there shall be paid on the issue of a duplicate of such a licence the sum of £3.25.

Virginia Bottomley

Secretary of State for National Heritage

6th February 1997

We consent to these Regulations.

Patrick McLoughlin

Richard Ottaway

Two of the Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury

11th February 1997

Regulation 1(2)

SCHEDULE 1REVOCATIONS

RegulationsReferences
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1991S.I.1991/436
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1992S.I.1992/353
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1993S.I.1993/476
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1993S.I.1993/2205
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1994S.I.1994/595
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1995S.I.1995/655
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 1996S.I.1996/379
The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1996S.I.1996/1772

Regulation 4(1)

SCHEDULE 2ISSUE FEES FOR TELEVISION LICENCES

PART IFees

123
Type of licenceDescription of licenceIssue fee

1.  Television licence (black and white only) General Form

A licence—

(i)

to instal and use black and white television receivers at the single place specified in the licence or, as the case may be, in the single vehicle, vessel or caravan so specified (“the specified location”);

(ii)

to instal and use black and white television receivers in any vehicle, vessel or caravan being used or occupied by the licensee or by a person normally living with the licensee at the specified location, being installation or use not covered by a licence described in item 6 below, provided that a receiver may not be used in a caravan, other than a touring caravan, at the same time as a receiver is being used at the specified location; and

(iii)

for the use anywhere of any black and white television receiver powered solely by its own internal batteries by the licensee or by a person normally living with the licensee at the specified location.

£30.50

2.  Television licence (including colour) General Form

A licence—

(i)

to instal and use television receivers at the single place specified in the licence or, as the case may be, in the single vehicle, vessel or caravan so specified (“the specified location”);

(ii)

to instal and use television receivers in any vehicle, vessel or caravan being used or occupied by the licensee or by a person normally living with the licensee at the specified location, being installation or use not covered by a licence described in item 6 below, provided that a receiver may not be used in a caravan, other than a touring caravan, at the same time as a receiver is being used at the specified location; and

(iii)

for the use anywhere of any television receiver powered solely by its own internal batteries by the licensee or by a person normally living with the licensee at the specified location.

£91.50

3.  Television licence (black and white only) Multiple Form

A licence—

(i)

to instal and use black and white television receivers at each of the places specified in the licence or, as the case may be, in each of the vehicles, vessels or caravans so specified (“the specified locations”);

(ii)

to instal and use black and white television receivers in any vehicle, vessel or caravan being used or occupied by the licensee or by a person normally living at one of the specified locations, being installation or use not covered by a licence described in item 6 below, provided that a receiver may not be used in a caravan, other than a touring caravan, at the same time as a receiver is being used at the specified location at which the person using the receiver normally lives; and

(iii)

for the use anywhere of any black and white television receiver powered solely by its own internal batteries by the licensee or by a person normally living at one of the specified locations.

£30.50 for each place, vehicle, vessel or caravan specified in the licence.

4.  Television licence (including colour) Multiple Form

A licence—

(i)

to instal and use television receivers at each of the places specified in the licence or, as the case may be, in each of the vehicles, vessels or caravans so specified (“the specified locations”);

(ii)

to instal and use television receivers in any vehicle, vessel or caravan being used or occupied by the licensee or by a person normally living at one of the specified locations, being installation or use not covered by a licence described in item 6 below, provided that a receiver may not be used in a caravan, other than a touring caravan, at the same time as a receiver is being used at the specified location at which the person using the receiver normally lives; and

(iii)

for the use anywhere of any television receiver powered solely by its own internal batteries by the licensee or by a person normally living at one of the specified locations.

£91.50 for each place, vehicle, vessel or caravan specified in the licence.

5.  Television licence (including colour) Accommodation for Residential Care Composite Form

A licence to instal and use television receivers at such parts of accommodation for residential care, as defined in Part II of this Schedule, as consist of living rooms or bedrooms provided for the private occupation of residents in that accommodation and as specified in the licence being, in the case of accommodation described in sub-paragraph (b) of the definition in paragraphs 2 to 7 of Part II of this Schedule, in dwellings which satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1(b)(i) to (iii) of Part II of this Schedule.In the case of the accommodation described in sub-paragraph (a) of the definition of “accommodation for residential care” in paragraphs 2 to 7 of Part II of this Schedule, £5 for each unit of accommodation occupied by a resident, as defined in Part II of this Schedule; and in the case of accommodation described in sub-paragraph (b) of that definition in paragraphs 2 to 7 of Part II of this Schedule, £5 for each dwelling which satisfies the requirements of paragraph 1(b)(i) to (iii) of Part II of this Schedule.

6.  Television licence Hospitality Area, Hotel and Mobile Units Comprehensive Form

A licence to instal and use television receivers in a hospitality area, hotel or mobile units as defined by paragraph 1 of Part III of this Schedule.To be determined in accordance with Part III of this Schedule.

PART IIDEFINITIONS FOR PURPOSES OF ENTRY 5 IN PART I OF THIS SCHEDULE

General

1.  In this Schedule—

(a)“disabled person” means a person who is blind, deaf or dumb or who is substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity;

(b)“a group of specially provided dwellings” means a group of at least four dwellings which fall within a common and exclusive boundary and—

(i)which are provided for occupation by disabled persons, mentally disordered persons or retired persons of pensionable age;

(ii)which have been erected or converted for the purposes of such occupation; and

(iii)for which there is a person whose function is to care for the needs of the persons referred to in sub-section (i) above and who either lives in one of the dwellings within the group or works in that group for at least 30 hours a week;

Provided that the conditions in sub-paragraphs (i) to (iii) do not cease to be satisfied in relation to a group of dwellings because—

(aa)in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, not more than 25 per cent of the dwellings are right to buy dwellings which do not satisfy the condition in sub-paragraph (i); or

(bb)any dwelling is also occupied by any member of the family of any person referred to in sub-paragraph (i); or

(cc)any dwelling is occupied by the person referred to in sub-paragraph (iii) above or a member of his family;

(c)“a resident” means a disabled person, a mentally disordered person or a retired person of pensionable age who is ordinarily resident in accommodation for residential care, but does not include a person in charge thereof or otherwise employed therein or a member of the family of either of them.

England and Wales

2.  In this Schedule in relation to England and Wales—

Scotland

3.  In this Schedule in relation to Scotland—

Northern Ireland

4.  In this Schedule in relation to Northern Ireland—

Jersey

5.  In this Schedule in relation to the Bailiwick of Jersey—

Guernsey

6.  In this Schedule in relation to the Bailiwick of Guernsey—

Isle of Man

7.  In this Schedule in relation to the Isle of Man—

Savings

8.  In paragraphs 2 to 4 and 6 and 7 above the expression “accommodation for residential care” shall include a dwelling which, before the coming into force on 19th May 1988 of the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1988(30), would have qualified as accommodation for residential care under the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges and Exemption) Regulations 1984(31) provided that such a dwelling is occupied by a person who, immediately before 19th May 1988, was licensed by a television licence for accommodation for residential care.

PART IIITelevision Licence Issue Fees for Hotels and Hospitality Areas and Mobile Units

Definitions

1.  In this Schedule—

(a)“hospitality area” means any establishment within the same premises or, as the case may be, on the same site offering entertainment units for the purposes of the entertainment of guests (whether or not for payment), other than a hotel;

(b)“hotel” means any establishment within the same premises or, as the case may be, on the same site offering units of overnight accommodation (whether or not used at other times) to guests and includes an inn, guest-house, holiday camp, caravan site and camp site;

(c)“mobile units” means mobile units of overnight accommodation (whether or not used at other times) for guests, which are provided by the same person and operated from the same place;

(d)“relevant amount” means—

(i)in the case of black and white television receivers only, £30.50;

(ii)in the case of black and white or colour television receivers, £91.50; and

(e)“units” means entertainment units in a hospitality area, units of overnight accommodation in a hotel or mobile units, as the case may be.

Issue fee

2.—(1) Where television receivers are only installed or used otherwise than in units used or available for use by guests, the fee is the relevant amount.

(2) The fee is determined in accordance with paragraph 3 below in the case of—

(a)a hospitality area in which television receivers are installed or used in units used or available for use by guests;

(b)a hotel in which television receivers are installed or used in units used or available for use by guests; and

(c)mobile units in which television receivers are installed or used or available for use by guests.

Determination of issue fee for purposes of paragraph 2(2) above

3.—(1) The issue fee under paragraph 2(2) above is determined as follows:

(a)for a number of units not exceeding 15, the fee is the relevant amount;

(b)for a number of units exceeding 15 and forming a multiple of 5, the fee is the relevant amount plus the relevant amount for each multiple of 5 in excess of 15;

(c)for a number of units exceeding 15 and not forming a multiple of 5, the fee is the fee applicable under paragraph (b) above for the multiple next above that number.

(2) For the purposes of determining the fee under sub-paragraph (1) above—

(a)units in which colour television receivers are installed or used shall be counted first; and

(b)if in any group of 5 units in excess of 15 there are installed or used both black and white television receivers and colour television receivers, all the television receivers in that group shall be treated as if they were colour television receivers.

Regulation 4(2)

SCHEDULE 3FEES FOR TELEVISION LICENCE PAYABLE BY INSTALMENTS

123
Type of licenceDescripton of licenceFees

1.  Premium instalment television licence (including colour) (not in Jersey or Guernsey)

A licence as described in column 2 of item 2 in Part I of Schedule 2, the fee for which is payable in accordance with column 3 of this Schedule.An issue fee of £24.14, and thereafter three instalment payments of £24.12, the first payable within the period of three months beginning immediately after the issue of the licence, the second within the period of six months beginning immediately after that issue and the third within the period of nine months beginning immediately after that issue.

2.  Budget instalment television licence (including colour)

A licence as described in column 2 of item 2 in Part I of Schedule 2, the fee for which is payable in the instalments specified in column 3 of this Schedule.

An issue fee of £53.40 and thereafter five instalments of £7.62; or

an issue fee of £52.60 and thereafter five instalments of £7.78; or

an issue fee of £49.95 and thereafter five instalments of £8.31; or

an issue fee of £49.20 and thereafter five instalments of £8.46; or

an issue fee of £45.75 and thereafter five instalments of £9.15; or

an issue fee of £45.10 and thereafter five instalments of £9.28; or

an issue fee of £40.70 and thereafter five instalments of £10.16; or

an issue fee of £40.15 and thereafter five instalments of £10.27; or

an issue fee of £34.35 and thereafter five instalments of £11.43; or

an issue fee of £33.95 and thereafter five instalments of £11.51; or

an issue fee of £30.50 and thereafter two instalments of £30.50; or

an issue fee of £26.15 and thereafter five instalments of £13.07; or

an issue fee of £25.95 and thereafter five instalments of £13.11; or

an issue fee of £22.89 and thereafter three instalments of £22.87; or

an issue fee of £18.30 and thereafter four instalments of £18.30; or

an issue fee of £15.25 and thereafter five instalments of £15.25.

In each case the first instalment shall be payable within the period of one month beginning immediately after the issue of the licence and the second and, where applicable, the third, fourth and fifth within the periods of two, three, four and five months respectively beginning immediately after that issue.

3.  Easy entry televison licence (not black and white only) (not in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man)

A licence as described in column 2 of item 2 in Part I of Schedule 2, the fee for which is payable in the instalments specified in column 3 of this Schedule which is issued to a person who, at the time of the issue, is in receipt of one, or more, income related state benefit.An issue fee of £4.00 followed by 25 weekly instalments of £3.50.

Explanatory Note

(This Note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations consolidate the Regulations specified in Schedule 1. In addition to minor drafting amendments, the Regulations—

(a)increase the amount of the basic fee for television licences from £30 to £30.50 in the case of black and white and from £89.50 to £91.50 in the case of colour;

(b)omit reference to a standard instalment licence;

(c)increase the issue fee for the premium instalment licence (which is not available in the Channel Islands) from £23.64 to £24.14 with instalments increased from £23.62 to £24.12, the total amount payable being £96.50;

(d)increase the fees for the budget instalment licence; provision is made for sixteen specified issue fees and a number of instalments thereafter but in each case the total amount payable is £91.50;

(e)increase the issue fee for the easy entry licence (which is not available in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man) from £3.50 to £4, with instalments increased to £3.50, the total amount payable being £91.50;

(f)extend the description of licences to cover the installation and use of receivers outside the single place, vehicle, vessel or caravan specified in the licence;

(g)provide that a group of dwellings may be within the definition of “a group of specially provided dwellings”, although 25 per cent of them are right to buy dwellings as defined (this does not apply in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man);

(h)extend the description of the former hotel licence to cover hospitality areas and mobile units, as defined, as well as hotels.

The provision formerly made for dealer licences is omitted in consequence of the Deregulation (Wireless Telegraphy) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1864) which removed the need for such licences in the United Kingdom. Orders are to be made which will remove the need for such licences in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

(1)

1949 c. 54; these sections are amended by Part I of Schedule 18 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42). The said Part I was extended to Guernsey by the Broadcasting Act 1990 (Guernsey) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/191), to Jersey by the Broadcasting Act 1990 (Jersey) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/193) and to the Isle of Man by the Broadcasting Act 1990 (Isle of Man) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991/192).

(2)

S.I. 1952/1900.

(3)

S.I. 1952/1899.

(4)

Post Office Act 1969 (c. 48); S.I. 1969/1369, 1371, 1974/691.

(5)

In Section 1(7) of that Act (as added by Part I of Schedule 18 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42)).

(16)

1938 c. 73 which has been amended by Schedule 4 to the Health Services Act 1980 (c. 53).

(27)

An Act of Tynwald.

(28)

1992 c. 4.

(29)

Made under the provisions of the Social Security Act 1982 (an Act of Tynwald).

(30)

S.I. 1988/899.

(31)

S.I. 1984/1053.