§ Mr. Matherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority a person is permitted to manufacture, distribute, store and use a detonator, and if a licence is necessary in each category; how many such licences in each category are currently on issue in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, respectively; and if it is mandatory for holders of licences to report losses and keep accounts open to inspection.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsThe controls over explosives, including detonators, in Great Britain are set out in the Explosives Acts 1875 and 1923 and Orders made under the Acts, and in the Control of Explosives Order 1953. Detonators may be manufactured only at factories licensed by the 223W Health and Safety Executive. They may be kept only (1) at a factory or magazine licensed by the Health and Safety Executive or (2) at an explosives store licensed by, or (3) at premises registered with a local authority, or (4) by an authorised "fit" person. The quantities of detonators permitted to be kept and the buildings in which they may be kept are limited by the terms of the licence.
No person may keep a detonator at any place unless he is in possession of a certificate from the police stating that he is a fit person to keep explosives; and it is an offence to sell detonators to anyone who does not hold a police certificate. Records of transfers of detonators must be kept for five years, and these are open to inspection by Her Majesty's Inspector of Explosives, a police officer or a local authority officer. Although it is not mandatory for licencees and holders of police certificates to report losses, there is an arrangement that all licensees of factories and magazines report losses immediately to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Explosives. Information about the number of licences currently on issue in Great Britain is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.