Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Deferred
Increased licence fee enforcement visits yield disproportionately low licence purchases and court cases.
Conclusion
The BBC increased enforcement of the licence fee system by carrying out nearly 2 million visits to unlicensed households in 2024–25, about 50% more than in 2023–24, driven by a rise in visiting officers (from 172 to 229) and visits per officer (from 7,660 to 8,670). However, this increase did not lead to a proportional rise in households interviewed under caution or purchasing a licence. In addition, the number of people taken to courts for licence fee evasion has fallen by 17.3% year-on-year from December 2023 to December 2024, continuing a long-term decline since 2017.10 The BBC noted that it has become harder to get people to answer their doors compared to five years ago, which limits the enforcement effectiveness. It also said that it has moved towards a more marketing-led approach, including targeted communications and improving customer understanding of licensable activities to ensure that people stay licensed.11 In response to our question about how their enforcement is incentivised the BBC explained that it prioritised customer service over aggressive enforcement, ensuring that customers are treated fairly and that enforcement activities are proportionate.12
Government Response Summary
The government responded by outlining strategies and actions related to animal vaccine availability and development, entirely unrelated to BBC licence fee enforcement.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. vaccine availability outlines a strategic framework for cross-sector action. VMD is continuing cross-sector engagement to identify ways to improve supply and enable future innovation (involving government, pharmaceutical manufacturers, vet groups and broader animal health community). A five-year multi-stakeholder Action Plan will be published late 2026. Defra will work with VMD as the plan is developed. In parallel, mitigations for urgent availability issues are being identified and actioned. Action has already been taken to secure animal vaccine supply to the UK. For example, in 2024, Defra worked with manufacturers, industry and the VMD to expedite emergency use of a Bluetongue 3 vaccine and subsequently to manage supply challenges. Defra supported the joint industry-government avian influenza vaccine taskforce (the Taskforce) to look at the emerging use of HPAI vaccines. A report published by the Taskforce on 24 July 2025 provisionally recommends a future species-specific vaccination strategy, and a trial in turkeys. The Taskforce has committed to publish a subsequent report in Summer 2026. In relation to vaccine development work for Bovine TB, an application for approval of the Cattle BCG vaccine was made in September 2025 and is being assessed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate according to published timelines. APHA continues work towards generation of data for the bovine TB cattle vaccine skin test which involves a commercial contract and tender exercise.