§ 3.32 p.m.
§ Mrs. Patricia McLaughlin (Belfast, West)I beg to move,
That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the law with regard to the sale and manufacture of fireworks.The purpose of the Bill which I seek leave to introduce is to reduce the number of accidents arising from the use of fireworks, which has been growing annually despite everything which has been done in the way of education, exhortation and publicity about the dangers which arise on Guy Fawkes' Day and about using fireworks indiscriminately.I want to make it clear at the outset that this is not an attempt at grandmotherly legislation. It is not an attempt to limit or to prohibit the rights of the individual except in so far as the rights of many individuals have already been infringed by the dangerous use of fireworks.
It might interest the House to know that I informed all the major firework manufacturing companies that I intended to seek leave to introduce the Bill this afternoon, and that I have had a varied bag of replies from them, some of which I hope to mention. The problem of the danger of fireworks and the fires and accidents which are caused by their use has been under consideration for a very long time. Every year we consider what more can be done to protect the public and children who use the fireworks from themselves and from the misuse of fireworks.
I have here a letter which I received some time ago from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. The Society sent it to be in my capacity as Hon. Secretary of the all-party Parliamentary Home Safety Committee, whose members are heartily behind the Bill. The Society, as we know, is very anxious to ensure that the rate of accidents in this country is lowered, and it is quite certain that one of the ways to do it is to endeavour to reduce the number of accidents due to what I might call firework behaviour and the wrongful use of fireworks.
I wish to quote one paragraph from the Society's letter: 216
In the case of accidents arising through the use of fireworks, the sad fact is that education has been tried and failed. The Press campaign anent the dangers of misuse of fireworks both in 1960 and 1961 in the weeks preceding Guy Fawkes' Day could not have been more vigorous. Yet, despite all this publicity, it is understood that the official figures, obtained this year for the first time from all hospitals, disclose that in England alone there were over 400 hospital admissions and that over 3,000 out-patients were treated in respect of firework accidents in the 1961 firework season. Inevitably, a high proportion of the victims were children who will have to face life either blinded or disfigured in body.This Society is not a killjoy organisation. Indeed, it is always most anxious to avoid suggesting any encroachment upon the liberty of the subject, provided that it is only the subject himself who will suffer the result of his own stupidity. However, where children are innocently involved, where the source of injury is not only fundamentally dangerous but also is not really a necessary concomitant of modern living, and where education in safe behaviour has patently failed, the Society has no option but to recommend what appears to be the only sensible and practicable course ",that is, legislation, either to ban them completely or to prohibit the use of certain types of fireworks.I have a large pile of correspondence here on this matter which I could not hope to read in full in the short time at my disposal, but I want to mention the letter which I think many right hon. and hon. Members, among others, have received from the Chief Constable of Birkenhead, who went to great trouble to go into the number of accidents and incidents which arose from the use of certain types of fireworks. They involved serious treatment and long terms in hospital for many youngsters. These accident figures are readily available. If any hon. Member is interested, I will let him have this letter afterwards.
The number of complaints of accidents which seriously frightened other members of the public due to "bangers" and the noise created by them was 51 in the Birkenhead area alone and the number of incidents with which the police had to deal on the night of 5th November was 502. The number of people taken to hospital or given attention other than hospital attention for burns was 418. Those figures relate to one area alone. I have had letters from the Birmingham Accident Hospital and from the doctors there who are responsible for trying to reclaim the 217 damaged bodies of children who have suffered serious accidents from fireworks.
There was an interesting article in the British Medical Journal of 4th November, 1961, about accidents caused a year previously and setting out a table of accidents since 1955. This is a frightening set of figures for anyone who studies it. The doctor who wrote the article, Dr. Jackson, said that the commonest form of injury until 1956 was caused by fireworks held in the hand. Even since then, it has been the cause of very serious long-term accidents among many small boys.
Opinion on this point has been divided among the organisations manufacturing fireworks. Indeed, one would not expect it to be otherwise. Some of these organisations say, "This is ridiculous. We put a notice on the firework about how it should be held. If the child or other buyer does not use it properly, that is his fault". However, in the past, we in this country have had to do away with many things because they were not suitable for use by the public.
I believe that we have reached a stage in our history when it is no longer necessary for a child to have 1d., l½d., or 2d. "bangers" to celebrate Guy Fawkes' day. When I was a small child—I am sure that many hon. Members will have a recollection similar to mine—I did not get as much pocket money as the average child gets today. I had 3d. a week, and when I bought a 1d. "banger" that was a time for celebration. On average, children today have much more pocket money than we used to have and far larger sums of money to spend on things which amuse them. Yet, many fireworks can be bought for 1d., 1½d., or 2d.
There is a small amount of Purchase Tax on them, which has recently been imposed, but it does not amount to a sum great enough to make any difference. Today, children use fireworks in the autumn as a status symbol in the way that children, in my young days gathered marbles or chestnuts, which we swopped among ourselves.
I was speaking only ten days ago to a little boy in my constituency who had had a very serious accident resulting from fireworks. He had 18 "bangers" in his pocket and some "silly ass" put a lighted match beside them. Hon. 218 Members may say that it is nonsense to take the view that I take, but let us be clear about this: boys will be boys and behave like this. As long as the law allows any boy over the age of 13 to go into a shop and spend what he likes on this type of firework, small boys will enjoy a noise if they can get it. If we allow this freedom, surely we must find means of ensuring that children are not allowed to have so many in their pockets.
I have with me some pictures, published in the British Medical Journal, copies of which have been sent to the Joint Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, showing the extent of damages resulting from accidents when small boys have had these fireworks in their pockets and they have been accidentally set alight. This is apart from what happens when "bangers" are put under passing cars, or when they are shoved through letter boxes and elderly people, living on their own, suffer great fright.
This is not unknown. It happened to me some years ago and except for the fact that I picked up the quite large and smouldering thing after it had exploded, and got rid of it, I would have had a nasty burn on my carpet. One does not want this kind of thing to happen in the guise of amusement. Then there is the plight of the animals, about which every year there is an outcry.
Nobody wants to stop celebrating 5th November, or young people enjoying themselves, but we do want to stop the indiscriminate use of "bangers" and the like around the streets of our cities, where they can do so much damage. This is only a humble attempt to try to limit the type of firework, following which the law must state that these types of fireworks may not be shown or offered for sale after the period when, we hope, the law regarding them will be changed.
I want, however, to quote from the British Pyrotechnics Association, which states:
We assure you that the members of this Association will join in anything they consider practicable to reduce the number of accidents, but they certainly do not consider the experience to date to justify a move of this nature.When will they consider the number of accidents and their results to justify a 219 move of this nature? Are we to wait until the accidents increase each year to such a rate that there is a public outcry, or are we to be the responsible people which we must be in Parliament and endeavour to meet the needs of the time? If so, we must bring in this Bill and limit these "bangers" so that a firework which merely goes off with a noise is not manufactured.We have far from solved our juvenile delinquency problem. We all know that it is one of the black spots on our society. If we allow these things to be manufactured and used and carried around, accidents will continue. Youngsters can have 20 or more stuck in their pockets and can buy them for the price of a "Coke" or a milk shake. This is only an inducement to young people to be naughty. Those who are stupid, we might be able to educate, but the downright devilment in our society is being encouraged by the use of these "bangers".
Little girls and old people can be frightened. Boys can make themselves appear big heroes by letting off a whole whack of fireworks in the middle of the street. I am sure that we could do a great deal to turn the minds of our young people to other things.
§ It has been said that if we leave the problem and do nothing about it, eventually it will sort itself out. We have heard this before on other matters. It has been said that if we ban these noisy fireworks, we will drive the unscrupulous and stupid to make their own. I do not believe this, because the Home Secretary has power to seize fireworks which are dangerous and which are not manufactured to the requisite standard. He can control anything which is on sale but is not up to standard. We are not grumbling about the standard.
§ In asking leave to introduce the Bill, I hope that hon. Members on both sides will agree that this is an attempt to try to help young people and not to hinder them. It is not an attempt to do away with the enjoyment of Guy Fawkes day, but rather to do away with the dangers surrounding it and to clear some of the hospital beds which should never be filled because of accidents resulting from them.
§ Question put, pursuant to Standing Order No. 12 (Motions for leave to bring in Bills and nomination of Select Committee at commencement of Public Business):—
§ The House divided: Ayes 153, Noes 34.
221| Division No. 143.] | AYES | [3.45 p.m. |
| Agnew, Sir Peter | Elliott, R. W. (Nwcastle-upon-Tyne, N.) | Hynd, John (Atterclifte) |
| Awbery, Stan | Emmet, Hon. Mrs. Evelyn | Iremonger, T. L. |
| Bacon, Miss Alice | Fernyhough, E. | Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) |
| Batsford, Brian | Forman, J. C. | James, David |
| Biffen, John | Fraser, Ian (Plymouth, Sutton) | Janner, Sir Barnett |
| Biggs-Davison, John | Gammans, Lady | Jennings, J. C. |
| Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. G. | Ginsburg, David | Johnson, Eric (Blackley) |
| Bourne-Arton, A. | Glover, Sir Douglas | Jones, Dan (Burnley) |
| Boyden, James | Glyn, Dr. Alan (Clapham) | Kerans, Cdr. J. S. |
| Bromley-Davenport, Lt. Col. Sir Walter | Goodhart, Philip | Kerby, Capt. Henry |
| Brown, Thomas (Ince) | Gower, Raymond | Kershaw, Anthony |
| Bullus, Wing Commander Eric | Grant-Ferris, Wg. Cdr. R. | Key, Rt. Hon. C. W. |
| Butcher, Sir Herbert | Griffiths, David (Rother Valley) | King, Dr. Horace |
| Butler, Herbert (Hackney, C.) | Griffiths, Rt. Hon. James (Llanelly) | Lancaster, Col. C. G. |
| Cary, Sir Robert | Harrison, Col. Sir Harwood (Eye) | Langford-Holt, Sir John |
| Castle, Mrs. Barbara | Hart, Mrs. Judith | Lawson, George |
| Cleaver, Leonard | Harvey, Sir Arthur Vere (Macclesf'd) | Leather, E. H. C. |
| Costain, A. P. | Heald, Rt. Hon. Sir Lionel | Lee, Frederick (Newton) |
| Coulson, Michael | Henderson, John (Cathcart) | Lever, L. M. (Ardwick) |
| Courtney, Cdr. Anthony | Hendry, Forbes | Lewis, Arthur (West Ham, N.) |
| Cronin, John | Herbison, Miss Margaret | Lindsay, Sir Martin |
| Crowder, F. P. | Hicks Beach, Maj. W. | Linstead, Sir Hugh |
| Cullen, Mrs. Alice | Hiley, Joseph | Litchfield, Capt. John |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Hocking, Philip N. | Loveys, Walter H. |
| Dance, James | Holland, Philip | McAdden, Stephen |
| de Ferranti, Basil | Hollingworth, John | McCann, John |
| Dempsey, James | Holman, Percy | McLaughlin, Mrs. Patricia |
| Digby, Simon Wingfield | Howard, John (Southampton, Test) | McLeavy, Frank |
| Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. M. | Howell, Charles A. (Perry Barr) | McMaster, Stanley R. |
| Doughty, Charles | Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire) | MacMillan, Malcolm (Western Isles) |
| Duncan, Sir James | Hunter, A. E. | Mallalieu, E. L. (Brigg) |
| Edwards, Walter (Stepney) | Hurd, Sir Anthony | Marsh, Richard |
| Elliot, Capt. Walter (Carshalton) | Hynd, H. (Accrington) | Matthews, Gordon (Merlden) |
| Maxwell-Hyslop, R. J. | Probert, Arthur | Taylor, Edwin (Bolton, E.) |
| Millan, Bruce | Proctor, W. T. | Teeling, Sir William |
| Mills, Stratton | Redhead, E. C. | Temple, John M. |
| Moody, A. S. | Rees, Hugh | Thomas, Leslie (Canterbury) |
| Morgan, William | Reid, William | Thompson, Dr. Alan (Dunfermline) |
| Nabarro, Gerald | Roberts, Albert (Normanton) | Tilney, John (Wavertree) |
| Nicholson, Sir Godfrey | Robson Brown, Sir William | Turton, Rt. Hon. R. H. |
| Noel-Baker, Rt. Hn. Philip (Derby, S.) | Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard | Wakefield, Sir Wavell (St. M'lebone) |
| Osborn, John (Hallam) | Russell, Ronald | Walker, Peter |
| Page, Graham (Crosby) | Seymour, Leslie | Wall, Patrick |
| Pannell, Charles (Leeds, W.) | Silverman, Julius (Aston) | Weitzman, David |
| Pargiter, G. A. | Skeet, T. H. H. | Williams, LI. (Abertillery) |
| Paton, John | Slater, Mrs. Harriet (Stoke, N.) | Williams, Paul (Sunderland, S.) |
| Pearson, Frank (Clitheroe) | Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.) | Williams, W. R. (Openshaw) |
| Peyton, John | Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank | Winterbottom, R. E. |
| Pike, Miss Mervyn | Stevens, Geoffrey | Yates, Victor (Ladywood) |
| Pilkington, Sir Richard | Stodart, J. A. | |
| Prentice, R. E. | Stoddart-Scott, Col. Sir Malcolm | TELLERS FOR THE AYES: |
| Prior-Palmer, Brig. Sir Otho | Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield) | Dr. D. Johnson and |
| Mr. George Craddock. | ||
| NOES | ||
| Beamish, Col. Sir Tufton | Henderson, Rt. Hn. Arthur (Rwly Regis) | Mathew, Robert (Honiton) |
| Bell, Ronald | Holt, Arthur | Noble, Michael |
| Boyle, Sir Edward | Hutchison, Michael Clark | Oakshott, Sir Hendrie |
| Brooman-White, R. | Irvine, A. J. (Edge Hill) | Rees-Davies, W. R. |
| Brown, Alan (Tottenham) | Jenkins, Roy (Stechford) | Royle, Anthony (Richmond, Surrey) |
| Browne, Percy (Torrington) | Kelley, Richard | Short, Edward |
| Channon, H. P. G. | Kimball, Marcus | Wade, Donald |
| Clark, William (Nottingham, S.) | Kitson, Timothy | Wells, William (Walsall, N.) |
| Foot, Michael (Ebbw Vale) | Lewis, Kenneth (Rutland) | |
| Greenwood, Anthony | Longbottom, Charles | TELLERS FOR THE NOES: |
| Grimond, Rt. Hon. J. | Lubbock, Eric | Mr. Loughlin and |
| Hale, Leslie (Oldham, W.) | McKay, John (Wallsend) | Mr. Allason. |
| Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N. W.) | Maclean, Sir Fitzroy (Bute & N. Ayrs.) |
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by Mrs. Patricia McLaughlin, Dr. Donald Johnson, Dr. J. Dickson Mabon, Mrs. Alice Cullen, Mrs. Eveline Hill, Mr. Leonard Cleaver, Mr. George Craddock, Mr. Eric Johnson and Sir Barnett Janner.