National Campaign for Firework Safety


Parliament in 2001
Part Two 1st November 31st December 2001


House of Lords where stated, otherwise House of Commons
Scottish Parliament in blue


Scottish Parliament, Written Answers, Thursday 1 November 2001

Fireworks

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities to help reduce the number of injuries resulting from the use of fireworks during this year's Guy Fawkes celebrations. (S1O-3976)
Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what precautions it has taken in order to limit the number of injuries caused by fireworks. (S1O-3987)
Iain Gray: The sale, supply and safety of fireworks are consumer protection matters and as such are reserved. The Department of Trade and Industry runs annual firework safety campaigns and issues firework safety packs to trading standards departments, environmental health departments, fire brigades and police forces. Fire brigades undertake local work in schools and the wider community and the Scottish Executive supplements this by funding regular publicity on fire safety.


2 November 2001

Fireworks


Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are carried out by the Health and Safety Executive prior to the (a) registration and (b) licensing of premises for the storage of fireworks. [11506]

Dr. Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
HSE licenses all explosives factories and stores holding more than 7,200 kg of fireworks. Stores holding less than 7,200 kg must either be licensed by the local authority or, depending on the quantity held, registered with it.
Where HSE is the licensing authority it considers a range of issues including the nature of the processes, the layout of the site and the construction of the buildings. In particular it will wish to ensure that adequate separation distances are maintained between explosives buildings and other buildings both on and off site. The draft licence is then submitted to the local authority for its assent. HSE will also make an inspection visit before operations start to ensure that the factory or store complies with the licence conditions.
Where the local authority is granting a licence it will normally check on the construction of the store and whether the distance between it and neighbouring inhabited buildings meets the minimum requirements. Registered premises are also subject to legal requirements. However due to the relatively small quantities involved local authorities would not normally undertake checks prior to registration.


Scottish Parliament, Written Answers, Monday 5 November 2001

Fireworks

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to control events involving bonfires and fireworks on and around 5 November 2001 in the interests of public and animal safety.         (S1W-18946)

Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive and the Scottish Fire Service are supporting the Department of Trade and Industry's 2001 Firework Safety Campaign. The DTI's Firework Safety Toolkit has been issued to fire brigades across Scotland. Brigades will distribute the Toolkits, including safety posters and leaflets, to schools. Additionally, brigades will take any further action they consider essential to raise awareness of bonfire and firework safety issues in their local areas.


7 November 2001

Fireworks

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage compliance by the fireworks industry with the voluntary code of practice on the sale of fireworks prior to 5 November. [11507]

Miss Melanie Johnson: We have held discussions with representative bodies of the fireworks industry and some larger retailers to agree dates for this year's voluntary sales period and to consider its effectiveness. In addition we have asked LACOTS (Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards) to remind trading standards departments of the voluntary code. We intend to review the effectiveness of the agreement after the fireworks seasons, and I would be interested in any evidence about how well the code is working.


Organised Crime Taskforce

28. Mr. Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the organised crime taskforce in Northern Ireland. [10876]

Jane Kennedy: The Government remain committed to tackling the organised crime problem in Northern Ireland. The organised crime taskforce and the agencies in Nl are achieving good results.
This week has seen a number of successes against the organised crime gangs who operate in Northern Ireland. In the past two weeks, in two separate raids, £700,00 of drugs were seized and £80,000 of counterfeit goods were confiscated. Last week, a Customs and police operation seized 600,000 duty-free cigarettes, 150 kilos of tobacco, 6,000 litres of alcohol and a huge quantity of illegal fireworks, CDs, videos and counterfeit clothing.


9 November 2001

Fireworks

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to ensure that fireworks are not sold to those under the age of 18 years. [12374]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 5 November 2001]: The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 prohibit the supply of most fireworks to persons under the age of 18 years. The exceptions to this prohibition are low hazard fireworks, that is caps, cracker snaps, novelty matches and party poppers, which, under the Explosives Act 1875 can be sold to persons over the age of 16 years. We provide information to consumers and retailers reminding them of these restrictions. We also work closely with local authority trading standards departments whose responsibility enforcement is.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to review the law on the sale of fireworks; and if she will make a statement. [13184]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 8 November 2001]: The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 introduced new controls on the types and sizes of fireworks which can be sold to the public. The situation regarding firework safety continues to be carefully monitored.


13 November 2001

Fireworks

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions there were against persons who have injured others with fireworks in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK; [13163]
(2) how many prosecutions have been brought against persons who are alleged to have damaged property with fireworks in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK; [13189]
(3) how many convictions have been secured against those prosecuted for sales of fireworks to underage children in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom; [13186]
(4) how many prosecutions have been brought against suppliers of fireworks for sales to underage children in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom; [13185]
(5) how many convictions have been secured against persons who have damaged property with fireworks in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK; [13190]
(6) how many prosecutions have been brought against persons who have injured others with fireworks in each of the last five years in (a) Scotland and (b) the United Kingdom. [13187]

Mr. Denham: Information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database, relating to England and Wales, does not identify separately the offence of "selling gunpowder to children" under s31 of the Explosives Act 1875, from other summary offences under the Explosives Acts.
Neither does it enable a distinction to be made between prosecutions and convictions for offences connected with personal injury or damage to property with fireworks, as the circumstances of violent and property offences are not collected.
Figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly respectively.


Fireworks

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many incidents involving injuries with fireworks have occurred in the last five years (a) prior to 5 November, (b) on 5 November and (c) after 5 November in each year in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK. [13188]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 8 November 2001]: We collect data of accidental injury cases involving fireworks for a period of four weeks from mid October to mid November, from Accident and Emergency departments in Great Britain. Similar information is collected separately by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. The GB data is set out in the table.

  
   
 
     
   
 
     
 

14 November 2001

Fireworks

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to heighten public awareness of (a) the dangers of fireworks and (b) the effects of fireworks on animals; [9240]
(2) what plans she has to restrict the decibel level of fireworks; [9242]
(3) what plans she has to review firework legislation; and if she will make a statement; [9243]
(4) what control the Government have over fireworks bought on the internet; and if she will make a statement; [9244]
(5) what plans she has to restrict the use of fireworks to a limited time period. [9241]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 24 October 2001]: The Department has recently launched this year's fireworks safety campaign informing the public of the dangers posed by fireworks. The theme of this year's campaign, is to urge children and young people to take care when using or being near fireworks. As part of the campaign, around 2,000 information packs to help mount local safety campaigns have been distributed to trading standards, fire brigades, health promotion units, environmental health officers and police forces. In addition over 25,000 special information packs have been distributed for use in schools.
The public is warned of the effects of fireworks on animals through the fireworks code, which advises pet owners to keep pets indoors. Each pack of fireworks on sale contains a copy of the code.
Fireworks on sale in the United Kingdom are required under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 to adhere to British Standards BS 7114 which restrict the size and weight of fireworks. I have no plans to change this at present, although we are involved in the proposed European Standard which is likely to specify sound levels for certain fireworks.
We have no plans to restrict the use of fireworks to a limited time period. The working of regulations safeguards is kept under regular review.
United Kingdom based firework companies selling over the internet are subject to the provisions of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997.

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department has taken to reduce accidents from fireworks. [10473]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The comprehensive measures introduced under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 are again being supplemented by a robust, targeted firework safety campaign. The measures include controls on the types and size of fireworks which can be sold to the public, and prohibiting sales to those under 18 years of age.
The emphasis of this year's campaign, is that children and young people should take care when using or being near fireworks. As part of the campaign, around 2,000 information packs to help mount local safety campaigns have been distributed to trading standards, fire brigades, health promotion units, environmental health officers and police forces. In addition over 25,000 special information packs have been distributed for use in schools.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many reported incidents involving injuries with fireworks in each of the last five years have involved (a) minors and (b) adults as the alleged perpetrators of the incidents in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK; [13164]
(2) how many reported incidents involving injuries with fireworks in each of the last five years have involved (a) minors and (b) adults as victims of the incidents in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK. [13165]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 8 November 2001]: The following data were collected from Accident and Emergency Departments in Great Britain over the firework season. Data are collected separately by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland. These figures are recorded cases of accidental injury involving fireworks. We have no statistics relating to alleged perpetrators of incidents.

 
   
 
     
   
 
     
 

Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further plans she has to regulate the sale and use of fireworks for purposes other than organised displays. [13984]

Miss Melanie Johnson: We have no plans to further regulate the sale and use of fireworks.

19 November 2001

Fireworks

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to restrict the sale of fireworks to those organising professional fireworks displays; and if she will make a statement. [15377]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 16 November 2001]: We have no plans to restrict further the sale of fireworks.


Fireworks

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many injuries from fireworks there were in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [14323]

Jane Kennedy: Firework injuries statistics in Northern Ireland have been monitored since 1996 and relate to people who have attended an accident and emergency department. The yearly figures are set out in the table.

 
   
 
     
   
 
     
 

(6) The 1999 figure includes statistics for the Millennium celebration period
Statistics for 2001 are not yet available as the monitoring period for injuries has just ended but they are due to be published in December.

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many incidents of criminal damage were recorded in each year since 1997 in Northern Ireland relating to the use of fireworks. [14324]

Jane Kennedy: The Chief Constable has advised that criminal damage statistics relating to the misuse of fireworks are not held in a format that would enable the Police Service of Northern Ireland to answer the question.


21 November 2001

Fireworks

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many reported incidents of injuries to (a) domestic pets and (b) other animals due to the sale of fireworks have been reported (i) prior to 5 November, (ii) on 5 November and (iii) after 5 November in each of the last five years in (A) Scotland and (B) the United Kingdom; [13179]
(2) how many reported incidents of damage to property with fireworks in each of the last five years have involved (a) minors and (b) adults as alleged perpetrators of the incidents in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK; [13191]
(3) how many incidents of damage to property with fireworks in the last five years have occurred (a) prior to 5 November, (b) on 5 November and (c) after 5 November in each year in (i) Scotland and (ii) the UK; [13192]
(4) how many incidents of injuries to (a) domestic pets and (b) other animals have been reported due to the sale of fireworks in each of the last five years in (i) Scotland and (ii) the United Kingdom. [13183]

Ms Hewitt [holding answers 8 November 2001]: I have been asked to reply because of my Department's responsibility for consumer and product safety which includes fireworks.
I regret that the information requested is not held by my Department


26 November 2001

Fireworks

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will introduce plans to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public. [16455]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 20 November 2001]: We have no plans to ban the sale of fireworks to the general public.

Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action her Department is taking to restrict the sale of those category 3 fireworks which cause excessive noise pollution. [16346]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 20 November 2001]: The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 prohibit from sale to the public several types of noisy category 3 fireworks such as aerial shells and restrict the size of others. We will, of course, consider any representations that are made.


5 December 2001

Fireworks

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what measures she has taken to ensure that fireworks are sold only close to specific dates such as 5 November and 31 December; [21062]
(2) what recent guidelines she has provided retailers selling fireworks; [21061]
(3) how many (a) children and (b) adults were injured by fireworks in (i) 1995 and (ii) 2001 to date; [21303]

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were injured by fireworks in (a) the UK, (b) the north-east and (c) south Tyneside in each year since 1997. [20975]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The powers available under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 allow for regulations to be made that address the intrinsic safety of goods but do not allow for the periods of sale to be regulated. We have, therefore, entered into a voluntary agreement with the industry that fireworks should only be made available for general retail sale for a period of three weeks around the 5 November and for a similar period around new year.
Our fireworks Safety Toolkit includes advice to retailers as to their responsibilities under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997, the voluntary agreement on the period of sale and best safety practice.
Data on firework injuries for this year (2001) are still being collated, therefore the latest data available is for 2000. Firework injuries in 1995 and 2000 are as follows:
In 1995: Children (under 18 years) 929, adults 556, not specified 45;
In 2000: Children (under 18 years) 557, adults 415.
We collect data from accident and emergency departments across Great Britain of accidents involving fireworks over a four week period around 5 November. We do not have separate data for the north-east or south Tyneside. The nearest we can provide is as follows:

 
   
 
     
   
 
     
 

6 December 2001

Fireworks

Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance she has given to trading standards officers in local authorities throughout the United Kingdom to ensure that fireworks comply with British Standard 7144. [21474]

Miss Melanie Johnson: We have made it a requirement under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1977 that fireworks must comply with BS7114. In addition, we have issued guidance to trading standard officers and others through our firework safety toolkit on the requirements of the 1997 regulations including the importance of BS7114.


13 December 2001

Fireworks

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures she will take to enforce the age restrictions on the sale of fireworks at (a) new year and (b) fireworks night 2002. [22663]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Enforcement of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 is the responsibility of local authority trading standards departments. I have sought feedback from trading standards departments on levels of compliance and enforcement issues following this year's fireworks season.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent representations she has had regarding the inappropriate use of fireworks; [18155]
(2) what action the police and local councils can take to control the inappropriate use of fireworks; [18153]
(3) what action she plans to control the inappropriate use of fireworks; and if she will make a statement. [18154]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has received representations from the public concerning the impact of noise, the misuse of fireworks in public places and issues of safety.
Under current legislation it is an offence under section 80 of the Explosives Act 1875 to throw or set off fireworks in any highway, street or thoroughfare or public place. The power to enforce this section of the Act rests with the police.
All fireworks sold to the public must also comply with the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997. The regulations, among other things, ban certain types of larger and more powerful products from retail sale, set the minimum age for purchasing fireworks at 18 years and require that all fireworks for sale must comply with the British Standard (BS7114). Local authority trading standards officers enforce the regulations.
In addition the Department runs an annual fireworks safety campaign, working closely with police, fire brigades and local authorities to promote safety messages during the firework season. This year over 25,000 safety toolkits were distributed to schools for use in the classroom to heighten awareness of the dangers of fireworks and to promote considerate behaviour.
We believe that the current restrictions on the sale of fireworks and rules on their use, backed up by an active safety campaign, provide the right level of control over the sale of fireworks. We have no present plans to introduce further controls but will continue to keep the position under review.


17 December 2001

Explosives Offences

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions have been recorded for offences under the Explosives Acts in each of the last five years. [22349]

Beverley Hughes: The information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database relating to England and Wales for the years 1996-2000 is given in the table.

Offenders convicted under the Explosives Acts, England and Wales, 1996 to 2000

  
   
 
 
   
 
     
 

(19) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for convictions at magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table
(20) Data for these offences are not separately identifiable on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database
Note:
All data are given on a principal offence basis

Written Questions for Answer on Monday 17 December 2001

451
Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of persons injured by fireworks in each of the last five years were injured by fireworks in (a) category 3 and (b) category 4 of BS 7114. (23655)
452
Mr Michael Weir (Angus): To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what proportion of persons injured by fireworks in each of the last five years were injured by fireworks in (a) Category 1 and (b) Category 2 of BS 7114

Explosives Offences

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions have been recorded for offences under the Explosives Acts in each of the last five years. [22349]

Beverley Hughes: The information held centrally on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database relating to England and Wales for the years 1996-2000 is given in the table.
Offenders convicted under the Explosives Acts, England and Wales, 1996 to 2000

 
   
 
   
     
 

Total number convicted

 
   
 
 
   
 
     
 

(19) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for convictions at magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust at a detailed level and have been excluded from this table
(20) Data for these offences are not separately identifiable on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database
Note:
All data are given on a principal offence basis


19 December 2001
Shona McIsaac (Cleethorpes): As we approach the festive season, with twinkling lights on the Christmas tree, Christmas cards and present wrapping, I shall raise the seasonal issue of fireworks--specifically, their irresponsible and prolonged misuse.
At the end of October and the beginning of November, my local paper was inundated with hundreds of letters of complaint about the misuse of fireworks--as was I. As a result of those complaints, the Grimsby Telegraph launched a campaign for tougher laws on the sale of fireworks. The response was astonishing: more than 1,100 people backed the campaign, while only one person supported the status quo.
I have given the campaign my full backing because people endure months of misery because of fireworks. I do not know what happens in the constituencies of other hon. Members, but it seems that in north-east Lincolnshire the firework season starts at the beginning of August. That is when the noise begins. As soon as the back-to-school posters go up in Woolworths and other stores, the fireworks are set off.
That shows that the voluntary code of practice on the restriction of sales to three weeks before and one week after 5 November is not working. There is an increasing use of fireworks. Christmas is coming up, so we shall see lots of fireworks. We have them at birthdays, weddings, parties and the celebrations of many of our ethnic communities, such as Diwali and other festivals. Many more fireworks are being used, thus causing more disturbance to many people.
Although the voluntary code restricts the sale of fireworks to the period around 5 November, few people realise that fireworks can also go on sale at this time of year--from the beginning of December and into January. People in my constituency and elsewhere are dreading another outbreak of explosive mayhem at Christmas and the new year.
Many elderly people have been writing to me and to the local paper to complain about fireworks. A war veteran told me that the war was quieter than the months of October and November in Lincolnshire. I am not of a sensitive nature, but, boy, the noise is atrocious. I have received complaints from people who run care homes and residential homes for the elderly, and from mums with young children and babies. Every time there is an explosion the babies start crying again, so the mothers get more and more fractious as the children get more upset.
The noise affects people who are seriously ill or recovering from illness; it affects shift workers and people with pets. Some of the people who got in touch with me have guide dogs. We forget that guide dogs are particularly sensitive to noise, so fireworks can actually disrupt the way in which they work. That is a danger for people who are blind.
The problem is not only one of noise. Increased criminal damage is associated with the misuse of fireworks. Every year there are reports of phone boxes being damaged by fireworks. People play tricks by putting fireworks into car exhausts and letter boxes. Fireworks are thrown at pedestrians, drivers and cyclists. They are thrown at people's windows and doors. There is also cruelty to animals, including tying fireworks to family pets that happen to get in the way of the louts who misuse fireworks--as happens in my constituency. There is a culture of fear and we must tackle it.
I love organised displays and I certainly want them to continue, but it is time to toughen up the voluntary code. A few years ago, I was burgled in early November, and noise was a factor. The dogs next door normally bark when someone they do not know walks down the street, but because of the noise of the fireworks they were barking anyway. The police told me that there is an increase in burglary at that time of year because deterrents such as barking dogs are not as effective as usual. Incidentally, the cats climbed up my new drapes and shredded them, but that is not as important as the fact that people are burgled at a time of year when criminals can use noise to disguise their activities.
The firework safety regulations of 1997 state that sales should be restricted to people "apparently" over 18, but there is no requirement to show proof of age. Certain categories of firework can be sold to people as young as 16. Average 16-year-olds have many restrictions on their lives. They are not allowed to vote, to buy drinks in pubs--although we all know that plenty of them do--or to drive cars, and in England, they cannot get married without parental consent. Yet we allow them access to explosives. That is unacceptable.
Yes, there are penalties for selling fireworks to people under 18. There are also penalties for discharging and throwing fireworks in the street, but how many prosecutions are there for such offences every year? They are few and far between. The code is not working. We must toughen it up because loutish elements misuse fireworks, causing much disturbance and a culture of fear--especially among the groups that I mentioned.
Early in the new year, my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner) is to bring in a ten-minute Bill on the subject, so I am flagging up the matter now to give the Government ample time, before the Bill is introduced, to tighten up the regulations so that, I hope, 5 November in 2002 and subsequent years will not be as noisy as before, and people can enjoy a bit of peace and quiet.

Vernon Coaker (Gedling): In the short time available, I wish to draw the attention of the House to three issues; two have national implications and one relates to my own constituency.
I very much agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) about fireworks. In the past few weeks, we will all have been contacted by numerous constituents about the problems that they have experienced with fireworks. Indeed, in common with my hon. Friend's local newspaper, our local newspaper--the Nottingham Evening Post--launched a campaign calling on the Government to review legislation on fireworks. Many of us in the House have had much correspondence and pressure from our constituents, and it is incumbent on the Government to examine how well the current legislation and regulations are working, reviewing them to ensure that in future some of the misery that many of our constituents have experienced is avoided as far as possible.
The issue is extremely serious. At some point, the Government will have to examine it to see what can be done. I appreciate that we can have as many regulations and reviews as we want, but at the end of the day we need regulations that can be enforced on the streets in an effective and practical way. Certainly, we cannot allow a situation to continue in which people feel terrorised for months on end--indeed, almost all year round. I therefore urge my hon. Friend the Minister to take up the issue.

Mr. David Amess (Southend, West): Before the House adjourns for the Christmas recess, I must briefly raise several points. First, I entirely agree with the hon. Members for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) and for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on fireworks. I cannot recall receiving so many letters about fireworks and on firework night I thought that our house was under siege, as bombs seemed to be exploding everywhere.
Fireworks no longer produce pretty little stars and the noises that they make seem to have grown louder and louder--local residents were complaining about animals being frightened. I much prefer organised displays. We should not ban fireworks, but a ten-minute Bill on the subject is to be introduced next year and I ask the Government to consider how such products are manufactured and whether we can definitively control the period for which they can be displayed. I hope that a successful gunpowder plot does not result next year owing to the crazy decision we took last night.

Mr. Tyler: The hon. Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) has a great deal of support across the House for the concern that she has expressed on a number of occasions about the way in which fireworks are sold and used. We all know from constituency experience that the manufacture of fireworks has reached such pyrotechnic heights that putting them in the hands of amateurs, let alone children, is dangerous. I hope that her message, which was backed up by the hon. Members for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) and for Southend, West (Mr. Amess), and is now backed up by me, too, will be heard by Ministers. Something must be done--things cannot continue as they are.

Mrs. Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton): I am pleased to .................. The hon. Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) referred to the problems caused by fireworks. We have all received letters about them, but it is difficult to achieve a balance between people wanting to have genuine fun and people misusing fireworks so that they cause problems to the elderly, pet owners and others. I hope that we can have practical advice from the Government on the changes that they intend to introduce, because something needs to be done. The hon. Lady nods, and I hope that she accepts that I share her concern about the problem. We need to ensure that any proposals that the Government introduce are safe and fairly predictable. It is an offence to create disturbance at night whether through the use of fireworks or other means. Therefore, when people break the law and local authorities have sufficient evidence of that--that is part of the problem--they should be brought to account. Otherwise the word will get round and people will continue to break the law.


Fireworks

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made regarding the effectiveness of legislation controlling the (a) sale and (b) use of fireworks. [23239]

Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Jarrow (Mr. Hepburn) on 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 943W.

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of persons injured by fireworks in each of the last five years were injured by fireworks in (1) (a) category 3 and (b) category 4 of BS 7114; [23655]
(2) in (a) Category 1 and (b) Category 2 of BS 7114. [23673]

Miss Melanie Johnson: We do not collect information on the BS7114 technical category of fireworks involved in injuries. Our annual data collection exercise provides details of the place of accident, such as public display or private party, and the type of firework involved, based on the patient's description. Category 4 fireworks are prohibited from general sale by the Fireworks (Safety) regulations 1997. We also know that the majority of injuries are caused in some way by misuse. We have no evidence of any correlation between the technical category of fireworks and the levels of injury.

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations she has received since 1 October from (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public concerning the use, misuse and sale of fireworks. [24140]

Ms Hewitt: My Department has received 348 representations from hon. Members and 653 directly from members of the public, concerning a wide range of issues relating to fireworks.


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