HC Deb 15 May 1970 vol 801 cc1694-5

Order for Second Reading read.

12.25 p.m.

Mr. Alfred Morris (Manchester, Wythenshawe)

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

I think the House is aware of the very strong feeling in the country that we should as soon as possible come to terms with the problem of those who exploit the genuine supporter of soccer and rugby football, although I should make it clear that this Bill does not relate only to soccer and rugby football. It has been put to me by some very reputable ticket agents that if there is not to be a " scalping " of theatre and ballet tickets, on the New York scale, we badly need an enactment of this kind.

I am sure that the House as a whole has read of the exploitation of genuine sports and theatre fans. There have been examples recently of prices having been charged which are out of all proportion to the face value of the tickets. Mr. Denis Follows, the Secretary of the Football Association has been in touch with me and has said that this Bill has the fullest support of that Association. I have heard from Messrs. Keith Prowse and other reputable ticket agents who have said that they feel that this Bill is urgently necessary. I have heard, as no doubt have other hon. Members, from constituents saying that they are tired of being exploited by ticket black marketeers.

I know it will be appreciated that this is an all-party Measure. There are hon. Members on both sides of the House who feel that the time has come to deal with those people who are not in the least interested in sporting occasions, in the theatre or in the ballet, but whose interest is simply in making a very quick and, I would have said, wholly reprehensible profit out of the genuine fan and theatre and ballet goer.

I am certain that the soccer fan who is kept out of Wembley and the rugby football fan who is kept out of Twickenham feel that we should be legislating against those who make it impossible for the ordinary fan to see the big occasion as well as the small occasion.

I hope the House will give the Bill a Second Reading.

Question put and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Bill committed to a Standing Committee pursuant to Standing Order No. 40 (Committal of Bills).