The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1997

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.