Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has any plans to review the BBC licence fee in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

A television licence is required to watch, record or receive television as it is broadcast live on any channel or online service. A licence is also required to watch or download live or on-demand content on BBC iPlayer. It is not a fee or charge for BBC services and is payable regardless of whether the licence holder ever watches the BBC. Licence fee revenue is not just used to fund the BBC, it is also used for other strategic public service objectives including funding the Welsh language broadcaster S4C.

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 duration of this 11 year Charter period, until the end of 2027. However, we have been clear that, ahead of the next Charter Review process, we will undertake a detailed look at the future of the TV licence model itself.

TV Licensing has said that it appreciates the challenges that many people face at the moment and it is working on ways it can provide further support. More information on how TV Licensing is responding to the COVID-19 situation on its website here: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/coronavirus.