MPs weigh up ticketing legislation.

Live sector awaits ministers' decision on touts, as interest groups express opposing views

by Gordon Masson

The future of ticketing at Britain's live events may lie in the hands of UK law makers following last week's Parliamentary select committee meeting to investigate the pros and cons of secondary ticketing.

The live music industry, backed by their peers in sport, wants to see Government legislation introduced to clamp down on touts, as well as other operators that profit from the resale of tickets. The secondary ticketing outlets argue that they are merely providing a service that the public wants.

Last Tuesday's meeting was convened in the House of Commons by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, following a series of ticketing summits hosted by the Government department of the same name.

Chaired by MP John Whittingdale, the panel of MPs is already examining written evidence from a variety of sources, but staged the gathering to listen to experts from various interested parties.

In addition to presentations by the country's governing football, rugby and tennis associations, MPs heard testimony from the Concert Promoters Association (CPA), DF Concerts CEO Geoff Ellis, National Arenas Association chairman Geoff Huckstep, promoter Harvey Goldsmith and a variety of primary ticket companies, such as Ticketmaster and SeeTickets.