§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement about the effectiveness of the voluntary code placing restrictions on the sale of fireworks.
§ Mr. John FraserFireworks manufacturers agreed to phase out the flyabout type of firework altogether, to reduce output of bangers to half of the 1975 output by 1977 and to box all fireworks except bangers, sparklers and large individual devices. I am satisfied that this agreement has been honoured in full. In fact, the manufacturers have informed me that banger production in 1977 was reduced to one-quarter of the 1975 level.
The agreement with retailers' associations was that fireworks would not generally be placed on sale more than three weeks before and a few days after 5th November. According to information received from the local authorities the great majority of retailers observed this agreement in October-November last year.