"May I also praise my hon. Friend’s leadership? She has done a cracking job raising this important point. Does she agree that we need to get at the touts? Those internet spivs are ripping off fans across the country, rigging the market and preventing real fans from going to gigs …..." Nick Smith - View Speech
"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 …..." Nick Smith - View Speech
"On support for regional growth, when will the financing be agreed for the electrification of the south Wales valleys train lines?..." Nick Smith - View Speech
"A recent Which? investigation found that ticketing companies can add up to 37% to the face value of a ticket for music and theatre events in booking and delivery fees. Given that the market is dominated by a handful of big players, is the Minister confident that consumers are getting …..." Nick Smith - View Speech
"A survey by the Federation of Small Businesses has found that only one in five of its members uses UKTI services. What steps will the Secretary of State take to encourage UKTI to work more closely with small businesses?..." Nick Smith - View Speech
"19. Which measures in the Government’s growth plan his Department has not yet implemented; and if he will make a statement...." Nick Smith - View Speech
"The Government have announced the electrification of the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line, but in advance of that we need to redouble the line to improve train frequency. Will the Government work with the Welsh Government to ensure that the finance for this shovel-ready project is delivered before the next …..." Nick Smith - View Speech
"T5. May I press the Minister on payday lenders? Will the Government really get those companies to make it much easier for consumers to understand the cost of those awful payday loans?..." Nick Smith - View Speech
"Will the Minister confirm that the average cost of jobs created by regional growth funds such as that in the north-west is £33,000? This is more than the cost of jobs created by the regional development agencies, which the Government abolished...." Nick Smith - View Speech
"On economic growth, does the Minister agree with the National Audit Office’s assessment that a “significant portion” of the regional growth fund has been
“allocated to projects that create or safeguard relatively few jobs for the money invested”?