To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the Office of Fair Trading on (a) the improvement of information for consumers in relation to the total cost of buying event entertainment tickets and (b) the rules governing event entertainment advertising; and if he will make a statement. (163090)

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has taken forward the recommendations in its 2005 report on “ticket agents in the UK”. For example, to work with local authority trading standards services to ensure ticket sellers comply with relevant consumer protection legislation, to consider enforcement action where necessary and to work with a trade association to produce model contract terms.

On advertising, the OFT recommended that the Committee of Advertising Practice should amend its guidance so all non broadcast event advertising is required to include the face value of the ticket, while indicating that additional fees may apply and could vary depending on the sales channel and ticket seller used. The Advertising Standards Authority acted on OFT's recommendation and amended its guidance in April 2005 but did not require advertisers to include the face value of tickets in adverts. The OFT is continuing to work with the ASA, in relation to reforming the Committee of Advertising Practice's code in line with the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and its UK implementation.

The OFT will monitor the effects of the new legislation and changes to the ASA code before considering whether further action is needed.