A Bill to make provision to decriminalise the non-payment of the BBC licence fee.
House of Commons
15 May 2014
This Bill would stop treating non-payment of the BBC licence fee as a criminal offences. Instead, non-payment would be handled as a civil debt, with enforcement moved from the criminal courts to civil processes. The aim is to change how the BBC collects the licence fee and to reduce the use of criminal penalties for non-payers.
The Bill is at its second reading in the Commons. If it progresses, it would move to committee stage for detailed examination and discussion of its provisions.
Generated 21 February 2026
This Bill was withdrawn and will not progress any further.
This Bill was introduced to Parliament on 24 June 2013. The second reading was expected on 28 February 2014 but was withdrawn.
If you require any further information about the Bill then please contact the sponsoring Member, Mr Philip Hollobone.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
