HC Deb 08 March 1978 vol 945 cc692-5W
Mr. Torney

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will now publish the firework injury statistics; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Fraser

Statistics are now available relating to persons who received treatment at hospitals in England, Scotland and Wales for injuries caused by fireworks during the period 16th October to 12th November 1977. There was an overall increase of 7 per cent, in firework injuries treated by hospitals when compared with the previous year, attributable to a 61 per cent, increase in injuries arising from incidents in the street. Nevertheless, the total was the second lowest since such records were first kept. Statistics for comparable periods in 1968–1969 for Scotland—and 1973 show the considerable and gratifying reduction in fireworks injuries which has been achieved over this period:

1968 1973 1977
England and Wales 2,537 1,186 709
1969* 1973 1977
Scotland 90 63 24
* The first year records were kept.

In view of the increase in the number of injuries arising from the letting off of fireworks in the street, in contravention of the Explosives Act 1875, as amended, I propose to consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what further practicable steps can be taken to reduce the incidence of these effects.

FIREWORK INJURIES IN GREAT BRITAIN (4-week period in October-November)
Year
1977 1976 1975 1974 1973
TOTAL 733 685 766 927 1,249
PLACE OF ACCIDENT
1. Family or private party 275 277 218 272 398
2. Public or semi-public party 144 167 148 144 160
3. Casual incident in street etc. 258 160 220 290 448
4. Other place 39 56 69 94 128
5. Unspecified place 17 25 111 127 115
TYPE OF FIREWORK
1. Banger 178 159 208 237 379
2. Rocket 87 91 89 79 129
3. Roman candle, coloured fire etc.* 112 89 119 159 294
4. Home-made or extracted powder 19 17 27 31 40
5. Other proprietary fireworks of which: 92 119 110 159 139
5.1 Jumping cracker† 26 43 59
5.2 Other flyabout 15 14 27 54
5.3 Sparklers 65 72
6. Unspecified type 245 210 213 262 268
SEVERITY OF INJURY
1. Fatal injury 1
2. Detained more than one night 71 50 46 78 84
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent 89 118 96 127 188
4. Minor injury 539 486 602 683 938
5. Unspecified injury 33 31 22 39 39
AGE GROUP OF INJURED PERSONS
Over 21 145 129 120 134 202
16–20 40 47 53 59 78
13–16 190 147 161 194 265
Under 13 358 362 432 540 704
EYE INJURIES 276 306 383 468
* Previously listed as "display fireworks".
† Jumping crackers were not sold in 1976 or 1977.
… Not separately available.
FIREWORK INJURIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES (4-week period in October-November)
Year
1977 1976 1975 1974 1973
TOTAL 709 663 728 883 1,186
PLACE OF ACCIDENT
1. Family or private party 272 273 215 267 385
2. Public or semi-public party 138 161 144 137 153
3. Casual incident in street etc. 248 154 203 272 422
4.Other place 38 51 65 89 119
5.Unspecified place 13 24 101 118 107
TYPE OF FIREWORK
1. Banger 174 153 196 228 356
2. Rocket 82 85 83 70 118
3. Roman candle, coloured fire etc.* 111 89 117 151 280
4. Home-made or extracted powder 18 17 24 29 38
5. Other proprietary fireworks of which: 90 119 107 154 137
5.1 Jumping cracker† 26 42 58
5.2 Other flyabout 14 14 25 52
5.3 Sparklers 65
6.Unspecified type 234 200 201 251 257

I will, with permission, circulate the 1977 statistics in the Official Report* together with the figures for comparable periods in the four preceding years.

Year
1977 7976 1975 1974 1973
SEVERITY OF INJURY
1. Fatal injury 1
2. Detained more than one night 65 47 43 70 80
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent 88 112 93 121 178
4. Minor injury 523 473 572 654 892
5. Unspecified injury 32 31 20 38 36
AGE GROUP OF INJURED PERSONS
Over 21 141 126 114 131 195
16–20 38 47 50 58 74
13–16 185 143 152 184 248
Under 13 345 347 412 510 669
EYE INJURIES 268 300 313 372 448
* Previously listed as "display fireworks"
† Jumping crackers were not sold in 1976 or 1977.
… Not separately available.
FIREWORK INJURIES IN SCOTLAND (4-week period in October-November)
Year
1977 1976 1975 1974 1973
TOTAL 24 22 38 44 63
PLACE OF ACCIDENT
1. Family or private party 3 4 3 5 13
2. Public or semi-public party 6 6 4 7 7
3. Casual incident in street etc. 10 6 17 18 26
4. Other place 1 5 4 5 9
5. Unspecified place 4 1 10 9 8
TYPE OF FIREWORK
1. Banger 4 6 12 9 23
2. Rocket 5 6 6 9 11
3. Roman candle, coloured fire etc.* 1 2 8 14
4. Home-made or extracted powder 1 3 2 2
5. Other proprietary fireworks of which: 2 3 5 2
5.1 Jumping cracker† 1 1
5.2Other flyabout 1 2 2
5.3 Sparklers
6. Unspecified type 11 10 12 11 11
SEVERITY OF INJURY
1. Fatal injury
2. Detained more than one night 6 3 3 8 4
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent 1 6 3 6 10
4Minor injury. 16 13 30 29 46
5. Unspecified injury 1 2 1 3
AGE GROUP OF INJURED PERSONS
Over 21 4 3 6 3 7
16–20 2 3 1 4
13–16 5 4 9 10 17
Under 13 13 15 20 30 35
EYE INJURIES 8 6 11 20
* Previously listed as "display fireworks".
† Jumping crackers were not sold in 1976 or 1977.
… Not separately available.

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