Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and Nick Smith

Thursday 16th October 2014 Commons Chamber

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

T4. Tickets for the 2015 rugby world cup are going for eye-watering amounts on the secondary market. The official top price for England-Wales tickets is £315, but viagogo is selling them today at £1,136. What actions are the Government taking to stop fans being ripped off on the secondary market for the rugby world cup?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant)]

I am aware of those concerns, but I am very confident, having met Ticketmaster and seen its 10-point plan, that the tickets will get into the hands of rugby fans. I am sure that the event will be a great success and I ask the hon. Gentleman to take note of the fact that successive Governments and Select Committees have said that regulation should be a last resort.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and Nick Smith

Thursday 12th December 2013 Commons Chamber

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

2. What steps she is taking to prevent the resale of 2015 rugby world cup tickets by touts.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mrs Helen Grant)]

We are in regular contact with the England rugby 2015 organising committee. We have provided advice on a range of options to manage the risk of ticket touting.

[Nick Smith]

Will the Minister look again at making the rugby world cup an event of national significance like the Olympics, which would mean that fans would be able to buy tickets at face value? If the Minister reconsiders, Labour would help to deliver the necessary legislation in the new year so that real fans do not get ripped off by ticket touts.

[Mrs Grant]

I believe the event will be of real national significance. It is a wonderful opportunity for people to take up rugby and to be inspired by sport. I have every confidence that tickets will be dealt with fairly and properly.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and Nick Smith

Tuesday 19th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

T4. The failed contract with ALS/Capita is a year old. Does the Minister agree that her claims of massive savings cannot be demonstrated, given that the Ministry refuses to publish details of how much is spent off-contract to purchase interpreting services?

[Mrs Grant]

I think that I have made the position clear, but I will repeat it. The contract is operating at a very good success rate, but further improvements can be made. Having worked as a solicitor in the old regime, I can say that it certainly was not perfect. I am satisfied that the new regime will not only save the taxpayer a considerable amount of money, but be more effective, transparent and accountable than the old regime.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Helen Grant and Nick Smith

Tuesday 13th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Grant]

Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service is working closely with the DWP to improve the quality of the original decisions and also the reconsideration process, so that only appropriate appeals reach the tribunal. As for waiting times, dealing with matters in a timely fashion is of course very important. I am pleased to announce that the waiting time between the receipt of an appeal to disposal has fallen from 22 weeks to 19.3 weeks, and that in Scotland it is down to 12.6 weeks.

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

11. How many foreign national prisoners were repatriated to their home country to serve their custodial sentence in 2011.