The Wireless Telegraphy (Television Licence Fees) Regulations 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regu1ations consolidate the Regulations specified in Schedule 1. In addition to minor drafting amendments, these Regulations increase the fees payable on the issue of the television licences described in Schedules 2 and 3 and regulation 4, except the fees referred to in entry 7 of Part I of Schedule 2. There is also a re-organisation of the content of the Regulations.

The fees formerly payable under the provisions corresponding to the following provisions of these Regulations are as follows: regulation 4, £2; entry 1 in Part I of Schedule 2, £24; entry 2, £71, entry 3, multiples of £24; entry 4, multiples of £71; entry 5, £2.50; entry 6, multiples of £2.50; paragraph 4(a) of Part III of Schedule 2, £24; paragraph 4(b), £71; entry 1 of Schedule 3, £35.50 issue fee plus instalments of £17.75; and entry 2, £19 issue fee plus instalments of £19.

Regulation 2 of these Regulations specifies the class or description of television receiving apparatus for the purposes of the definition of “television receiver” in the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. The provision of that definition was amongst the amendments made by Schedule 18 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 (which amendments come into force on 1st April 1991 by virtue of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provisions) Order 1990 (S.I. 1990/2347)). The amendments made by that Schedule also provide a definition of “television licence” and provide for the fees for such licences to be payable to the British Broadcasting Corporation instead of the Secretary of State.

The effect of regulation 5(3) of these Regulations is to extend the effect of the exemption from the provisions of section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 made by regulation 3 of the Regulations referred to in regulation 5(1) of these Regulations. Accordingly, there is no longer a need for the exemptions made by regulations 3 and 4 of the Wireless Teiegraphy (Broadcasting Licence Charges and Exemptions) Regulations 1984 (which are revoked by Schedule 1 to these Regulations) and no provisions corresponding to the said regulations 3 and 4 are included in these Regulations.