Clause 36 - Notification of non-payment of charges
Communications Bill
12:00 pm
Mr Michael Fabricant (Lichfield, Conservative)
I am grateful for the Minister's reply. If what he said is true, the only remaining option if someone does not pay on time is the nuclear option of withdrawing a licence, which is available under the Office of Communications Act 2002. Perhaps the Minister would like to consider how the Bill could be amended later. I am quite stunned. It is most unusual for any organisation not to have provision to charge interest on late payment. Even the Inland Revenue has such provisions. If the Bill does not provide such provisions, the nuclear option of withdrawing a license is all that is left. That seems particularly draconian. Would the Minister consider introducing such a provision?