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The Trust is responsible for overseeing the licence fee collection arrangements, put in place by Â鶹Éç management, and ensuring they are "efficient, appropriate and proportionate". This is a new responsibility for the Â鶹Éç's governing body which is stated in the Royal Charter for the first time.

Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of the Â鶹Éç Trust, said:

"It is use of a television, or other television receiving equipment, which dictates the need for a television licence, but the purpose of the licence fee is to pay for all Â鶹Éç domestic services – on television, radio and online. For the Â鶹Éç to meet its remit, and deliver the quality programmes and services the public rightly expects, it is essential it collects the funding needed. The Â鶹Éç has a duty to be efficient in collecting the licence fee and to keep evasion rates as low as possible so that those people who pay are not disadvantaged by those who do not. This is an issue which arouses strong emotions, because the right balance needs to be struck between ensuring compliance with the law and avoiding any disproportionate heavy-handedness. On behalf of licence fee payers, the Trust will consider whether that balance is being struck through the processes used to collect the licence and, if there is room for improvements, we will ensure they are made."

The Trusts review will consider areas such as:

• The range of payment methods available to licence fee payers and whether it is clear to people when a TV licence is needed
• The tone of the marketing and advertising about the TV licence
• The enforcement methods used by TV Licensing, including letters, visits and detection

Through an open consultation and formal research, the Trust is seeking the public's opinion on these issues, as well as their view on how far the Â鶹Éç should pursue those who should but don't pay the licence fee.

The public consultation starts today (Monday 8 September) and closes on Friday 28 November. The Trust will also be talking to audience groups and other interested parties and distributing information via libraries and other public places. It will be visiting TV Licensing sites to gain first-hand experience of collection and enforcement of the licence fee.

The Trust will analyse all the evidence it collects and expects to publish its report next spring, once it reaches its final conclusions.

The review will not consider settled public policy issues, such as the cost of the licence fee or whether there should be a licence fee.

Ends

Notes for editors

1. Terms of reference for the review.

2.The questions for the public consultation are:

• Do you feel it is clear when a TV licence is needed? Is there anything more which could be done to help people understand?
• Did you know about the different ways of paying for your TV licence?
• Is the range of payment methods suitable for you? If not, how would you like to pay?
• Is the direct communication you've received about your TV licence clear and concise, polite but firm?
• Do you think the tone of the marketing and advertising about the TV licence is appropriate?
• Do you think that the methods of enforcement, including letters, visits and detection, are reasonable and appropriate?
• Do you think that the process for those who do not need a licence is appropriate?
• Based on your experiences of other collection agencies, such as local councils, utility companies and the DVLA, do you have any suggestions on alternative ways of collection?
• Overall, do you think the right balance has been struck between encouraging payment and deterring evasion?
• Do you have any other comments about how the TV licence fee is collected?

3. Under the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004, it is a legal requirement to be in possession of a valid TV licence in order to use any television receiving equipment such as a TV set, digital box, DVD or video recorder, PC, laptop or mobile phone to watch or record TV programmes as they are being shown on TV.

4. The Â鶹Éç became responsible for collecting the licence fee in 1991 taking over from the Home Office. Since that time the evasion rate has fallen from 12.7% (1991/92) to 5.1% (2007/08). In 2007/08 £3.4 billion licence fee was collected. There are 25.3 million licences in force.

5. Administration of the collection and enforcement of the television licensing system is carried out by TV Licensing, which is a trading name used by the companies contracted by the Â鶹Éç to do this. Information about TV Licensing is available at tvlicensing.co.uk.

6. TV Licensing's existing advertising campaigns, scheduled to run whilst this review is underway and before the Trust publishes its report next year, will continue.