§ 2. Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of adults and children, respectively, who suffered serious or minor injury as a result of firework accidents in each of the years 1964 to 1968, inclusive; and if he will take steps to make it necessary to obtain a licence in order to purchase fire works.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Merlyn Rees)The figures for 1968 are not yet available, but I hope to publish them shortly. The figures for 1964 to 1967 were given in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester. Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 7th March, 1968. I am not at present satisfied that there is a case for restricting the sale of fireworks to licensed purchasers.—[Vol. 760, c. 131–2.]
§ Mr. RobertsWould my hon. Friend not agree that some attempt must be made to reduce the dreadful number of injuries due to this cause? Would he accept that the simple way to do this would be to confine fireworks to organised displays, so that firms or groups or individuals would have to obtain a licence to buy fireworks?
§ Mr. ReesI realise the problem. Between 1962 and 1967, the total number of casualties fell by nearly 30 per cent. and the total number of severer casualties fell by nearly 65 per cent., so we are making progress.
§ Mr. LoveysWould the hon. Gentleman not agree that a very high proportion of these accidents are caused by home-made fireworks? What action is he taking to ensure that sodium chlorate is sold in a form which will make it less effective as an explosive compound?
§ Mr. ReesI will have a look at that last point. I do not think that a large number of accidents are due to homemade fireworks. A proportion are, but most of them occur at firework parties at home.