§ Mr. George Grantasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when she proposes to introduce legislation further to restrict the sale of fireworks; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Alan WilliamsThe Government fully support the aims of the Explosives (Age of Purchase etc.) Bill, introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 17th December 1975. This measure, which was given a Second Reading on 6th February, seeks to restrict further the sale to young persons of explosive substances including fireworks.
In addition, I have negotiated a substantial agreed package of measures with the manufacturers and the retailers' and wholesalers' asociations to strengthen the existing controls by:
Firework injuries in the 1975 Guy Fawkes season were the lowest since records were first kept in 1962. The number of persons requiring hospital treatment for firework injuries in England and Wales showed a welcome reduction of 18 per cent. from the 1974 figure, and a fall of nearly 40 per cent. compared with 1973. The number of serious injuries has declined even more sharply. These trends are very encouraging. I intend to keep the matter under regular review in the light of the results achieved by the new measures we are taking.
- (1) phasing out the flyabout or helicopter types of firework;
600 - (2) reducing the production of bangers over the next two years by over 20 million, that is to one half of the 1975 output;
- (3) limiting the period when fireworks are generally available in the shops to three weeks before 5th November and a few days thereafter;
- (4) restricting the sale of all fireworks other than bangers, sparklers and large individual devices to boxed selections only by November next year; and
- (5) revising the statutory maximum fee for registering premises where fireworks may be kept.