Fireworks (Hansard, 16 January 1997)

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if a school is permitted as a component part of a local authority to purchase serial shells, aerial maroons, shell-in-mortar, maroon-in-mortar and combinations for the purposes of a firework display. [11043]

Mr. John M. Taylor
In the view of my Department, the reference to local authorities in the regulations refers to the elected members of a council and officers of the council acting in their official capacity. It does not extend to establishments such as schools under the control of local authorities.

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the competence of armed forces establishments to safely operate aerial shells, aerial maroons, shells-in-mortar, maroons-in-mortar and combinations; and if such establishments will be authorised under the Firework Safety Regulations 1996 to acquire such fireworks. [11042]

Mr. Taylor
No assessment of the ability of the armed forces establishments to operate such fireworks safely has been undertaken. However, in the view of my Department such establishments would come within the exemption in regulation 4(a) because of the exceptionally high level of skill and expertise in handling similar devices possessed by those who will be responsible for operating displays at such establishments, and have the formal management structures which enable displays to be operated safely and professionally.

§ Mr. Burden
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what mechanisms he intends to introduce to ensure that regulation 4(b) of the Firework Safety Regulations 1996 applies only to those who have the skills and 327W experience to assess compliance safely to operate aerial shells, aerial maroons, shells-in-mortar, maroons-in-mortar and combinations. [11044]

Mr. Taylor
The exemption for any person whose trade or business, or part of whose trade or business, is the supply of fireworks has been included in the regulations to allow those in the distribution chain—such as manufacturers and importers—to supply other persons in the supply chain who may not themselves be in the business of operating firework displays. All those in the business of supplying fireworks are subject to separate legislation covering the safety and storage of fireworks. No other mechanisms are therefore necessary.