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Tickets

Volume 467: debated on Monday 19 November 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the impact of ticket pricing policy and arrangements in the event entertainment industry on access to cultural events; and if he will make a statement. (163091)

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) published a report on ticket agents in the UK in 2008. OFT examined consumer concerns around pricing and found the main issue for consumers was information about prices. The OFT has been in discussion with the Committee on Advertising Practices on reforms to its code, and is waiting to see the impact of future legislation and changes to the code, before considering whether further action is needed.

The DCMS survey, Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005-06, looked at attendance and participation in cultural and sporting activities. Only 6 per cent. of those questioned cited cost as the main barrier to visiting an arts event. DCMS plans to carry out a more detailed review of this issue as part of its next report on the Taking Part survey.