§ 24. Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the statistics of injuries sustained by members of the public on each of the past five Guy Fawkes nights; and whether he will give the details of the serious injuries sustained by members of the public services, including police and firemen.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesParticulars of firework accidents during the years 1962–67, which do not distinguish injuries to members of the public services, were given in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 7th March. The corresponding figures for 1968 are not yet available.—[Vol. 760, c. 131–2.]
§ Mr. BrooksDoes not my hon. Friend agree that the vandalism which so often arises on Guy Fawkes night and which is a hazard, particularly to firemen who are called out to put out bonfires which become a hazard to life and limb, is a serious matter and that it is time for the Ministry to consider means of protecting public servants from the dangers to which they are exposed?
§ Mr. ReesI have made inquiries from the Fire Service Inspectorate and from the Police Department, and I am told that the number of such injuries is negligible. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will let me know.
§ the suggestion, that any question of bounty should be considered.
§ Following is the information:
§ Sir J. RodgersWill hon. Gentlemen give us an assurance that he will take no steps to diminish the tributes paid to Guy Fawkes in his endeavours to reform Parliament?
§ 25. Mr. Brooksasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from the hospital authorities regarding a ban on the sale of fireworks to the general public.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesNone recently.
§ Mr. BrooksIs not my hon. Friend aware that very considerable publicity has rightly been given to the accidents and injuries sustained, particularly by children? Did my hon. Friend see a television programme recently which highlighted the dangers? Has not the time come to restrict some of the fireworks which are at present being sold to the general public, including children?
§ Mr. ReesI think that that aspect comes up in a later Question. Reverting to my Answer that I have received no representations, I want to make it clear that many hospitals feel strongly about this. There is a danger that because I said "None" large numbers of people would be prompted to write. I am aware of feelings on this.
§ 26. Mr. Henigasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further measures he is proposing to take 561 to reduce the number of accidents occasioned to children by fireworks each year on 5th November.
§ 34. Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the existing legislation governing the sale of fireworks in the light of his Department's study of fireworks casualties.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesDuring the period 1962 to 1967, the number of accidents has fallen by some 29 per cent. and the number of serious injuries by some two-thirds. The Home Office will keep safety precautions under continuous examination in consultation with the trade; safety publicity will continue to be issued; and shopkeepers will again be reminded of their statutory obligations relating to sale and storage. I am not at present satisfied that proposals to amend the law would be justified.
§ Mr. HenigI welcome this decline in the number of accidents, but does not my hon. Friend agree that there are still far too many accidents to young children? Will he reconsider strengthening the law against the private manufacture of fireworks and also placing more restrictions on the sale of certain kinds of fireworks which cause most of the accidents?
§ Mr. ReesI am continuously considering the matter. I have not yet received the accident statistics for this year. An examination of the question of the age below which sale should not be permitted, namely, 13, shows that a large number of accidents are sustained by children below the age of 13, who are not allowed to buy fireworks anyway. Legislation is extremely difficult in this respect.