Scales of justice

The politicial antennae of the BBC's Public Affairs team must have been pointing the other way, when backbench Tories, probably with a little light prodding from Justice ministers, cooked up the idea of de-criminalising non-payment of the tv licence fee. Now there's frantic defensive activity - today comes the enthralling suggestion of a DCMS/BBC/Min of Justice working group on the issue.

If this is a carrot, it's a poor spavined thing. The stick, wielded by James Purnell, is the idea that the BBC could lose £200m a year in income, threatening BBC4, CBBC and CBeebies. Sadly, all Tories can think of other ways the BBC could save £200m before cutting more channels - probably including Jim's department and its Public Affairs team. And they recognise de-criminalisation as an arm's length way of clipping the BBC's wings without taking much blame themselves for the consequences.

The BBC has generally done well out of running the licence fee since the move from Post Office collection. Sharper systems, tendering of the collection process, easy payments, and a growth in the number of households have all delivered more income to the BBC over the last 20 years. Now, the BBC seems to be left bleating for some sort of income support.

Meanwhile, the so-called horror stories of the magistrates' courts need debunking. Supposedly 10% of the courts' work, calls to attend are issued in batches of 50 (via Capita, not the Ministry of Justice)- very few turn up, most choosing to pay up in advance, and payments are also taken in corridors outside courtrooms if needed. Is that so horrible, and such a great burden on the Ministry ?  Perhaps there's another explanation - maybe most bailiffs are Tory voters.