National Campaign for Firework Safety



Parliament in 1989

Houses of Lords where stated, otherwise House of Commons

19 January 1989

Fireworks (Injuries)

Dame Janet Fookes : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he is yet able to announce the statistics for fireworks injuries for 1988.

Mr. Forth : Information from most but not all hospitals has now been received, and the usual reminders are being sent. Busy hospitals are of course doing us a favour in providing the figures. We hope to announce the firework injury statistics, as usual, some time in March.


20 April 1989

Fireworks (Injuries)

Mr. Robert G. Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the figures of injuries caused by fireworks in 1988.

Mr. Forth : According to reports from hospitals in England, Scotland and Wales, 877 people required treatment for injuries caused by fireworks during the three weeks leading up to 5 November 1988 and the few days after. This is 83 fewer than in 1987.
I am encouraged by these figures, which show a fall on last year, particularly as they show a significant 18 per cent. reduction in the number of street injuries and to children under 16.
Our safety campaigns last year highlighted the penalties facing shopkeepers who sell fireworks to children under 16 and individuals who let off fireworks in the street. I am pleased to see that the greatest reductions in injuries have been in the prime target groups of our campaigns, but we shall continue to seek greater safety all round.
We shall discuss with trading standards officers and industry how we can further improve standards of fireworks, particularly imports, and ways of testing their safety. The table sets out the figures of firework injuries in Great Britain over a four-week period in October/November 1988.

Firework injuries in Great Britain |   Four-week period in October to November   

  
   
 
 
   
 
     
 

26 April 1989

Firework Injuries

92. Mr. Gould : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will now publish the firework injury statistics for 1988.

Mr. Forth : The firework injury statistics were published in answer to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 20 April, at columns 256-58.

24 July 1989

Fireworks

Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish details of firework injuries for 1988 by type of injury and in each geographical region.

Mr. Forth : The firework injury statistics given in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 20 April, at columns 256-58 included a breakdown by severity of injury and separated eye injuries from the total. No further details of the type of injury involved is available.
The table contains an analysis of fire accidents by type of firework and regional health authority.

Great Britain                             
Analysis of Firework Accidents 1988 by Type of Firework and Regional Health Authority

  
   
 
   
   
 
     
 

Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations have been made to him by (a) trading standards officers and (b) the Health and Safety Executive concerning proposals to change the procedures to test fireworks.

Mr. Forth : Trading standards officers have complained that there are too few test houses capable of testing fireworks for safety, and that those local authorities doing the most testing will face a financial burden. The Health and Safety Executive is concerned that it is not its proper function to test fireworks and that it is the proper responsibility of trading standards departments. My Department is looking into the arrangements for the testing of fireworks.


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