§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he is satisfied with the working of the new law on fireworks and the voluntary agreement on restricted sales in the light of the surveys recently undertaken by the National Campaign for Firework Reform.
§ Mr. John FraserIt would be premature as yet to form a judgment on the effectiveness of these arrangements.
§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps were taken by his Department to inform retailers of the new law and voluntary agreement on fireworks.
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Mr. John EraserWide publicity has been given to the Explosives (Age of Purchase, etc.) Act 1976 and to the voluntary agreement limiting the period of sale of fireworks, both by my Department and through the co-operation of the Fire-work Makers' Guild and the Joint Firework Trade Committee.
The voluntary agreement, particulars of which were given to the House on 25th November 1975, received considerable publicity in the national Press at the time, and during and after passage of the Bill as a result of Press releases by my Department on 2nd April 1976 and 23rd July 1976. A further Press Notice is being issued today.
Some 65,000 copies of a leaflet, "Fireworks and the Shopkeeper", have been issued by my Department to local authorities for distribution to retailers of fireworks.
Following discussions between my Department and the Firework Makers' Guild, retailers have had their attention drawn to the new minimum age of purchase and the agreement limiting the period of sale by means of a conspicuous notice which, under arrangements made by the guild, firework manufacturers have either included in consignments of fireworks or posted to retailers. The Joint Firework Trade Committee has also inserted advertisements in the relevant trade journals, and articles have appeared in the trade press.
My Department has made available recorded interviews and radio "spot" scripts underlining the new age restriction on purchase and the need to follow the firework code. These are aimed at the general public as well as retailers.
§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he intends to accept the offer of the National Campaign for Firework Reform to monitor the new law.
§ Mr. John FraserThe offer made by the National Campaign for Firework Reform is to make available to my Department the results of a survey it is carrying out concerning the Explosives (Age of Purchase, etc.) Act 1976. Any information supplied will be carefully considered.