A Bill to de-criminalise the non-payment of the BBC licence fee by persons aged over seventy-five; and for connected purposes.
House of Commons
Sir Christopher ChopeConservative
30 April 2026
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
This Bill would decriminalise non-payment of the BBC licence fee for people aged over 75. That means not paying the licence would no longer be treated as a criminal offence for this age group, with any enforcement moved to non-criminal channels and other related provisions outlined in the Bill. It applies only to those aged over 75 and does not change the rules for everyone else.
The Bill has completed its first reading and is now at the second reading stage in the Commons; it has not yet progressed to Committee or the Lords.
Generated 21 February 2026
21 Oct 2024
The 2024-2026 session of Parliament has come to an end so the House of Commons is now prorogued until the next session begins on 13 May 2026. Prorogation is the formal end to the parliamentary year.
This Bill will therefore make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
