A Bill to make provision to decriminalise the non-payment of the BBC licence fee.
House of Commons
15 May 2014
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Bill would remove criminal penalties for not paying the BBC licence fee and treat non-payment as a civil debt instead. In effect, enforcement would move from criminal prosecutions to civil processes for licence fee non-payment. It targets how the BBC licence fee is collected and enforced.
The bill has completed its first reading and is currently at the 2nd reading in the House of Commons; further stages, including potential progression to the Lords, are not listed here.
Generated 21 February 2026
24 Jun 2013
This Bill was withdrawn and will not progress any further.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 The second reading was expected on 28 February 2014 but was withdrawn.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.
