HC Deb 14 July 1995 vol 263 cc838-9W
Ms Estelle Morris

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for amending section 67 of the Explosives Act 1875, authorising local authorities in metropolitan areas to enforce section 31 of the Act and deal with dangerous fireworks. [32494]

Mr. Jonathan Evans

I do not consider it is necessary to amend the Explosive Act 1875 in order to empower trading standards officers to deal with any traders supplying fireworks to children apparently under 16 years of age. While enforcement of section 31 of that Act is for the police, trading standards officers have powers under the General Product Safety Regulations 1994 to prevent the supply by traders of goods, including fireworks, which are unsafe in the hands of those to whom they are supplied, for example the supply of fireworks to children under 16 years of age.