The BBC has confirmed plans to help those who are struggling to pay their TV licence. With 86 per cent of TV licence revenue going to the British broadcaster, the Beeb will offer people who can't afford the £159 fee a two-month break before chasing of payments begins.
The company has partnered with debt charity StepChange to create the 'breathing space' policy, to help households that are in "real financial difficulty" get affairs in order, reports Birmingham Live. The news comes following the publication of BBC's Gender Disparity report on Wednesday, which has set out a 10 point action plan to improve how TV licence payments are handled.
Clare Sumner, BBC director of policy, said: “While we know societal factors drive the gender disparity, we’re committed to making improvements to our own processes wherever possible. Our action plan will improve support for people in real financial difficulty to help them stay licensed and reduce risk of prosecution.
Cases that meet requirements will be refereed by StepChange to be granted the eight week grace period to avail of the debt charity's services.
"We look forward to the new partnership with StepChange and we will closely monitor its impact," Claire added. "I would like to thank all those who contributed to the review and Baroness Lola Young for her independent scrutiny and oversight.”
The Gender Disparity Report set out to determine what factors that play a role in persecutions of TV licence evasion. Along with gender, finance and other socio-economic factors were reviewed, but no one cause was to blame.
Baroness Young of Hornsey, the independent advisor for the Gender Disparity Review, said: "The BBC’s Action Plan has the potential to lead to fewer people – particularly those in real financial difficulty - being prosecuted and that is something to be welcomed.
"This was a rigorous review which scrutinised a raft of new evidence and concluded there is no single source of the disproportionality that we see in prosecutions. As I have said in the report, women and men do not appear to be treated differently.
"Rather, the societal factors at play are also often present alongside disparities in the criminal justice system, and health and other services."
You need a TV licence if you watch or record live TV on any channel or service or if you use BBC iPlayer. You may be able to get a free or discounted TV Licence if you’re 75 or over and get Pension Credit, or if you’re blind or in residential care.
A TV Licence costs £159 (£53.50 for black and white TV sets) for both homes and businesses. You need your own TV Licence if you have separate tenancy agreements and you watch TV in your own room.
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