§ Mrs. GilroyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the fireworks injuries statistics for 1999; and if he will make a statement. [120231]
§ Dr. HowellsThe total number of persons recorded as attending hospital casualty departments in Great Britain during the 1999 bonfire night period was 1,056. This represents an increase of just over 21 per cent. on the previous year's total of 831. However, injuries in 1999 were still at a lower level than those recorded in the mid 1990s. Also firework sales were approximately 40 per cent. higher in 1999 than for the same period in 1998.
During the millennium period 327 persons required treatment at hospital casualty departments. This suggests that the Government's warning about the dangers of mixing alcohol and fireworks was taken very much to heart.
548WThere were no deaths from fireworks in 1999.
I am arranging for draft copies of the injury figures together with the analytical and regional tables to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses as well as on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk) and hard copies will be published shortly as will details of the millennium injuries.