Government Plans Overhaul of Archaic TV Licensing Rules

Oops... someone accidentally presses publish at the 

Guardian (image courtesy of Google's cache).

The Guardian inadvertently reported earlier this evening that under new Government plans retailers will no longer be compelled to hand over customer's details to TV Licensing.

According to the paper's website, recently airbrushed after they noticed they'd accidentally breached an embargo on the story (which doesn't bother us), the Business Secretary Vince Cable is due to announce a bureaucratic tidying-up exercise that will see the abolition of two-thirds of regulations aimed at retailers.

Mr Cable hopes the Government's new Red Tape Challenge will liven up the high street. Speaking of the scheme he said: "There is a very serious confidence problem on the high street. Making the business environment more friendly will hopefully make a difference."

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that 160 retail regulations would disappear. Their plans also include an amendment to the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, which currently obliges retailers to notify TV Licensing of any sales or rentals of television sets.

Keep checking the Guardian's website for more details, because I'm sure they'll rekindle the article sometime soon!