91Èȱ¬

The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over changes to the television licence fee rules.

Peers narrowly voted that there should be no move to decriminalise non-payment of the fee before 2017.

Ministers want to keep open the option of making a change when an independent review reports in the summer.

The 91Èȱ¬ has said decriminalisation could cost it up to £200m a year, warning channels may have to be closed as a result.

Last year, MPs backed plans to give the government power to decriminalise non-payment of the licence fee, currently £145.50 a year for a colour television.

But in the Lords, a cross-party amendment, preventing any change before the next licence fee settlement begins in April 2017, was approved by 178 to 175.

Conservative peer Lord Grade of Yarmouth, a former chairman of the 91Èȱ¬, said he was "deeply concerned" about the uncertain effect of decriminalisation on the 91Èȱ¬'s budget.

He said he would "love" to see the licence fee decriminalised, but added: "There are risks the enemies of the 91Èȱ¬ will see it as an opportunity to then move the compulsory element of the licence fee and move the 91Èȱ¬ to a subscription model which would completely undermine the whole concept of public service broadcasting."

The vote amends the Deregulation Bill, which will now go back to the House of Commons.