As 170,000 people were either drying off, or still trying to leave the mud bath that was the Glastonbury Festival, along with reflecting on the largest number of bands in the event's history, they could feel satisfied that, for once, they'd had a fair chance of getting in. Thanks to an unprecedented anti-tout scheme brought in by the Eavis family, those who wanted to buy a ticket had to register over a month before the sale date, and were required to supply a photo that would be part of their ticket. A few tickets did appear on Ebay, but they were quickly cancelled, meaning genuine music fans weren't ripped off by the touts, and all had paid equal money to slosh about in the Somerset mud.

It isn't always possible to introduce such a strict ticketing policy. Cost, man power and shortage of time are three key reasons why we won't see this happening throughout the live music industry, so the problem of the ticket tout will rumble on. Step forward, the Government's Department of Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee hearing into this very issue.

While most Glastonbury-goers were attempting to sleep off their weekend, a who's who of the ticket retail industry was gathering at the Houses of Parliament, to look at the ever-growing problem that faces music & sports fans wanting to attend the highly sort-after events. Ticketmaster and SeeTickets were represented, as were Ebay and other websites to whom the finger of blame is firmly pointed by those who believe more needs to be done to protect the unfortunate and often desperate punter.

Ebay, along with Seatway and Viagogo who were also present, took an almighty kicking at this meeting. However Ticketmaster and SeeTickets didn't have it all their own way for they were asked to justify another bone of contention - the booking fee.

Ticketmaster argue that this is a necessary evil, given the 24/7 demand for call centers, and the technological developments they and others have had to make in order to prevent websites from crashing during times of extreme demand. Then there's customer protection, not least the use of recorded delivery to ensure tickets reach the buyer, removing the risk of items going missing if sent by ordinary mail.

Although clearly an issue that fans grumble about, the booking fee is, in this case, a bit of a distraction from the real point. The increase in price that is claimed to be essential in ensuring we get the service we expect, is nothing in comparison to the vast mark up that any Ebay search might find.

Unsurprisingly, Ticketmaster and SeeTickets, along with music promoters, were pushing hard for a change in legislation to ban the sale of tickets through the secondary market. Ebay & co., argue that this is merely providing a service that people want, giving consumers the right to sell on their ticket which, after all, they own and have the right to do with as they please. They also point out that they are providing a means whereby punters can get rid of tickets if they can't attend an event (something that can't be done through ticket retailers) as well as giving fans a far safer way of picking up a ticket for an event rather than buying one on a street corner near to the venue. Plus, as ever, there is the underlying and unarguable point that it's not against the law, as is the case for football matches.

The ability for charities to sell tickets for events via sites such as Ebay in order to generate extra revenue was also highlighted. However given the creativeness of many fundraisers, were this option to be taken away, they will certainly find other means to generate money so this is a hollow way of trying to claim bonus brownie points.

Seatway and Viagogo, when pushed by the committee of MPs (from all three major parties) said that they don't offer a platform for the sale of tickets that initially were free, but say that if money has been parted with, that gives the purchaser the right to sell it on for more. As we know Ebay, whether they'll claim they don't or not, definitely do give people the opportunity to make money from free events, as shown by the recent controversy surrounding the Radio 1 Big Weekend (a free festival in May 2007), where they ignored calls for tickets to be taken down.

One of those demanding Ebay removed tickets for the Radio 1 festival was MP Shaun Woodward from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (although now moved to a new job in Northern Ireland in this week's cabinet re-shuffle), who appeared at Tuesday's session. He again reiterated his disappointment at Ebay's unwillingness to withdraw these tickets from their site, pointing out that this event was being paid for by the license fee, that the event was primarily for those living in the local area around Preston, and that artists were playing for free. Sadly his turn to speak came after the Ebay representative, and the committee of MPs hearing the evidence didn't ask Ebay to comment on this specific, high profile incident.

Woodward dismissed calls for an outright ban on the secondary market, saying that he didn't believe this was in the best interest of consumers, suggesting that for ninety percent of cases, the secondary market worked effectively and that punters wanted a method of being able to resell their tickets.

He did suggest that, as a last resort, tougher regulation should be considered. He called for the industry to consider self-regulation first as he believed more willingness should be shown to prevent music fans from missing out on buying tickets for major events.

Although the ban some were hoping for looks a long way off, a likely compromise would be a series of 'crown jewel events', which it will be illegal to resell tickets for. Think of it as a similar principal to the guarantee that certain selected sporting events i.e. The Grand National and The Cup Final have to be shown on terrestrial TV.

This on paper is a good idea, however, for me it's flawed. As we've seen with the rise of the Isle of Wight Festival in 2007, an event where the demand is moderate one year, can explode and sell out in record time twelve months on. It only takes the bagging of a heavyweight act such as the Stones to change the whole perception of a festival. It's worth pointing out that this year's Isle of Wight sold out off the back of the confirmation of Snow Patrol and Muse, with the Stones far from the mind, and the speed with which tickets went was certainly a surprise.

Then there are one off events such as the Arctic Monkeys Old Trafford shows, or Muse at Wembley Stadium. Although demand is easy to predict, often events are announced a matter of days ahead of tickets going on sale, meaning any list of events drawn up would need to be flexible in the extreme in order to properly protect the fans.

And what about the glaringly obvious point that, if Tommy the Ticket Tout can't make money from Reading or T in the Park, what's to stop him moving on to something that's not on the list? Is shifting the problem about really the best form of punter protection?

Shaun Woodward was impressive when he spoke on Tuesday, but to say that ninety percent of the secondary market works fine, does suggest to me something of a grey area on a matter of principal. Where's the line between somebody making money from selling one ticket on for twenty quid more than they paid for it (which a hell of a lot of people have either done or thought about), and somebody buying in bulk to sell as a professional tout? These two examples are a world apart, but the implication that it's fine to resell for any money at all is questionable.

I know a number of people who use Ebay to buy tickets, because they can, but wouldn't be that fussed if the option wasn't there. I also know people who have seen the other side of this, paying out vast amounts for something that doesn't actually exist. Therefore in my opinion, the suggestion that the public is against an outright ban on the secondary market is also questionable. If you ask a group of people if they would be happy for a ban to be brought in if there was a suitable place for them to resell an unwanted ticket at face value, the numbers for such a ban would surely go up. Banning the secondary market is a different thing from banning ticket touting.

Woodward is right when he says there should be a greater willingness on the part of the ticket industry to reach an ideal compromise. Self-regulation would be lovely, but on the evidence of this hearing, is quite some distance off.

The moral finger can be pointed at ticket touts, Ebay, et al until it hurts and falls off. But, the reality is that the government, Ticketmaster, SeeTickets, concert promoters, you, me and the next-door neighbour know all too well, that morality doesn't automatically figure in a business plan. While it remains legal to do so, even if Ebay stopped allowing people to sell tickets on at vastly inflated prices, another outlet will appear. For me, until something major is done, those involved will simply continue to flex their muscles and fight their corner, hoping that the other side will back down first. Meanwhile when the major festivals go on sale in 2008, and big draw bands from across the musical spectrum announce tours, fans will get frustrated because events sell out in minutes, only for tickets to appear on Ebay: and the problem rumbles on.