HC Deb 03 March 1980 vol 980 cc40-3W
4. Mr. Aitken

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will announce the fireworks injury statistics for 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Tebbit

Following the extensive campaign launched by my Department, there was a fall from 953 persons requiring hospital treatment for injuries caused by fireworks in 1978 to 745 during the same period of 1979.

I shall, with permission, circulate detailed statistics in the Official Report.

Year
1970 1973 1977 1976 1975
SEVERITY OF INJURY
1. Fatal injury — — 1 — —
2. Detained more than one night 47 62 65 47 43
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent 91 117 88 112 93
4. Minor injury 545 694 523 473 572
5. Unspecified injury 32 39 32 31 20
AGE GROUP OF INJURED PERSONS
Over 21 139 161 141 126 114
16–20 78 68 38 47 50
13–15 203 216 185 143 152
Under 13 295 467 345 347 412
EYE INJURIES 303 350 268 300 313

(a) Included in "other place" prior to 1978.

(b) Previously listed as "display fireworks".

(c) Jumping crackers were not sold from 1976.

(d) Included in other proprietary fireworks from 1978.

(e) Included in other proprietary fireworks prior to 1978.

ֵ Not separately available.

FIREWORK INJURIES IN SCOTLAND
(4-week period in October-November)
Year
1979 1978 1977 1976 1975
TOTAL 30 41 24 22 38
PLACE OF ACCIDENT
1. Family or private party 6 14 3 4 3
2. Public or semi-public party 7 11 6 6 4
3. Casual incident in street etc. 13 14 10 6 17
4. Other place 3 2 1 5 4
5. Unspecified place 4 1 10
6. Indoors(a) 1 — — — —
TYPE OF FIREWORK
1. Banger 7 2 4 6 12
2. Rocket 9 11 5 6 6
3. Roman candle, coloured fire etc.(b) 5 7 1 — 2
4. Home-made or extracted powder 1 — 1 — 3
5. Other proprietary fireworks of which: 1 4 2 — 3
5.1 Jumping cracker(c) — — — — —
5.2 Other fiyabout(d) — — 1 — 2
6. Sparklers(e) 2 1 — ֵ ֵ
7. Unspecified type 5 16 11 10 12
SEVERITY OF INJURY
1. Fatal injury — — — — —
2. Detained more than one night 2 3 6 3 3
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent 6 2 1 6 3
4. Minor injury 20 36 16 13 30
5. Unspecified injury 2 — 1 — 2
AGE GROUP OF INJURFD PERSONS
Over 21 7 9 4 3 6
16–20 9 2 2 — 3
13–15 8 10 5 4 9
Under 13 13 20 13 15 20
EYE INJURIES 7 13 8 6 ֵ
(a) Included in "other place" prior to 1978.
(b) Previously listed as "display fireworks".
(c) Jumping crackers were not sold from 1976.
(d) Included in other proprietary fireworks from 1978.
(e) Included in other proprietary fireworks prior to 1978.
ֵ Not separately available.

FIREWORK INJURIES IN GREAT BRITAIN
(4-week period in October-November)
Year
1979 1978 1977 1976 1975
TOTAL 745 953 733 685 766
PLACE OF ACCIDENT
1. Family or private party 239 359 275 277 218
2. Public or semi-public party 135 175 144 167 148
3. Casual incident in street etc. 290 350 258 160 220
4. Other place 52 51 39 56 69
Unspecified place 17 25 111
6. Indoors(a) 29 18 — — —
TYPE OF FIREWORK
1. Banger 190 212 178 159 208
2. Rocket 73 122 87 91 89
3. Roman candle, coloured fire etc.(b) 123 160 112 89 119
4. Home-made or extracted powder 34 39 19 17 27
5. Other proprietary fireworks of which: 65 107 92 119 110
5.1 Jumping cracker(c) — — — — 26
5.2 Other flyabout(d) — — 15 14 27
6. Sparklers(e) 49 71 65 72 ֵ
7. Unspecified type 211 242 245 210 213
SEVERITY OF INJURY
1. Fatal injury — — 1 — —
2. Detained more than one night 49 65 71 50 46
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent 97 119 89 118 96
4. Minor injury 565 730 539 486 602
5. Unspecified injury 34 39 33 31 22
AGE GROUP OF INJURED PERSONS
Over 21 146 170 145 129 120
16–20 80 70 40 47 53
13–15 211 226 190 147 161
Under 13 308 487 358 362 432
EYE INJURIES 310 363 276 506 ֵ
(a) Included in "other place" prior to 1978.
(6) Previously listed as "display fireworks".
(c) Jumping crackers were not sold from 1976.
(d) Included in other proprietary fireworks from 1978.
(e) Included in other proprietary fireworks prior to 1978.
ֵ Not separately available.