Sting the Touts

Ticket touts are to be the subject of a government inquiry, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has said.The new probe will look at touting at music, cultural and sporting events, and is seeking views from the live music industry.It will focus on a number of points, including the impact of internet auction sites, and if tickets should be allowed to be sold above face value.Last year the government said it had "no plans" to make touting illegal.Music fans complain that ticket touts - who continually snap-up tickets for festivals and gigs, before selling them on again for vastly inflated prices - are a huge problem.It is hoped the inquiry will enable the government to deal with the ongoing problem.Key issuesThe 11-strong committee, chaired by Conservative MP John Whittingdale, will look into a series of issues relating to the secondary ticket market.It is asking for written submissions from promoters, ticketing agencies and other interested parties, to address a number of key points. They are:

• The underlying causes of ticket touting, and its impact on performers, promoters and the public
• Whether or not resale of a ticket, at face value or at a higher value, should be permitted in principle
• The impact of the internet upon trade in tickets
• Whether or not tickets' terms and conditions banning transfer and onward sale are fair or enforceable
• The merits of new approaches by ticket agents attempting to prevent transfer of tickets, including wider use of personal ID
• Whether legislation in place for football matches and the London 2012 Games should be extended to cover other music, sporting or other cultural events.

ConvincedThe government has held a number of "touts summits" to look into the problem, but has stopped short of legislating against touting.Stuart Galbraith, managing director of events company Live Nation, said he welcomed the new probe, but added he "remained to be convinced" it would be of any use."I have to say that I'm very more cynical about the government's intentions to do anything about ticket touting than I was at the start of this process."The deadline for written submissions is 6 June.