PROTECTING FANS FROM TICKET TOUTS

That this House notes that the British public has a passion for attending sporting events, concerts, festivals and other cultural occasions that is unmatched in the world; further notes that this passion is increasingly being exploited by ticket touts who are targeting ticketing systems just to make money; further notes that not only does this lead to people being exploited and often defrauded but also removes vital income from the cultural and sporting sector; calls upon event organisers, government and regulators to work together to clamp down on this practice; calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to further strengthen and implement the self-regulatory code of practice her Department has drawn up on this issue; and believes that if this self-regulatory approach is not successful that new legislation will be required on ticket touting similar to that recently introduced for the London 2012 Olympics.