§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many retailers were convicted in each of the last three years for selling fireworks to children below the age of 13 years; and what was the average line imposed.
Mr. Alan WilliamsI regret that this information is not available. Whilst the annual totals for prosecutions under the Explosives Act 1875 are known—for example 113 in 1973, 92 in 1972—these are not broken down to give the number of offences of different kinds committed under this Act.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will set up a committee to review the law relating to the sale to the general public of fireworks, with a view to reducing the risk of accidents and in particular to consider whether (a) the age limit for purchases should be raised for all or some categories of firework and (b) whether the sale of some categories of fireworks should be banned.
Mr. Alan WilliamsAs I announced on 4th November in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) my Department is to undertake a full review of the present controls over fireworks. All interests concerned will have the opportunity to let us have their views, on the basis of a consultative document which my Department is preparing.