Fireworks (Hansard, 21 October 2003)

§ Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the control of fireworks. [132583]

§ Mr. Sutcliffe
The Fireworks Act 2003, which received Royal Assent on 18 September 2003, will allow the Department to make regulations covering a range of firework issues which we are currently unable to regulate under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. These include restricting firework sales and use, licensing of retailers and controlling noise and nuisance.
We hope to implement those parts of the Act dealing with anti-social issues before Christmas. This means that we will create a curfew for the use of fireworks, create an offence for possession of fireworks by those under 18 years of age, and prohibit the supply of air bombs.
The Act's other principal provisions—setting a maximum noise limit for fireworks, licensing of suppliers, rules for public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators—require more detailed consultation with all the interested parties. We will start implementation of this part of the Act in the New Year.

§ Shona McIsaac
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when she expects to introduce regulations prohibiting the supply, purchase, possession and use of fireworks during anti-social hours; [132646]
(2) when she expects to introduce regulations to prohibit the purchase, possession and use of fireworks by those under 18 years; [132647]
(3) when she expects to introduce regulations to prohibit consumer sales for excessively noisy fireworks; [132648]
(4) when she expects to introduce regulations to license fireworks retailers. [132649]

§ Mr. Sutcliffe
The Department is committed to implementing and ensuring proper enforcement of the Fireworks Act 2003.
We hope to implement those parts of the Act dealing with anti-social issues before Christmas. This means that we will create a curfew for the use of fireworks, create an offence for possession of fireworks by those under 18 years of age, and prohibit the supply of air bombs.
The Act's other principal provisions—setting a maximum noise limit for fireworks, licensing of suppliers, rules for public firework displays, importation of fireworks and training of display operators—require more detailed consultation with all the interested parties. We will start implementation of this part of the Act in the New Year.