§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish details of firework injuries for 1988 by type of injury and in each geographical region.
§ Mr. ForthThe firework injury statistics given in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, West (Mr. Hughes) on 20 April, at columns256–58 included a breakdown by severity of injury and separated eye injuries from the total. No further details of the type of injury involved is available.
The table contains an analysis of fire accidents by type of firework and regional health authority.
519W
Great Britain Analysis of Firework Accidents 1988 by Type of Firework and Regional Health Authority Regional Health Authority Banger Rocket Roman Candle Etc. Sparkler Other Proprietary Firework Homemade or Extracted Powder Unspecified Type Totals Northern 10 8 6 8 5 3 25 65 Yorkshire 21 15 5 9 10 0 16 76 Trent 14 14 4 7 6 2 16 63 East Anglia 4 6 2 1 3 0 4 20 North West Thames 4 7 4 5 6 0 18 44 North East Thames 6 12 0 4 4 0 26 52 South East Thames 15 17 6 5 12 3 28 86 South West Thames 7 6 3 5 2 0 17 40 Wessex 2 7 7 10 1 2 13 42 Oxford 7 4 5 3 6 1 7 33 South Western 9 12 4 7 5 2 7 46 West Midlands 20 16 13 17 11 0 31 108 Mersey 5 5 2 4 5 0 14 35 North Western 20 22 12 7 6 1 18 86 Board of Governors 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Scotland 9 11 6 4 3 1 16 50 Wales 9 1 4 6 1 2 7 30 Total 162 164 83 102 86 17 263 877
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations have been made to him by(a) trading standards officers and (b) the Health and Safety Executive concerning proposals to change the procedures to test fireworks.
§ Mr. ForthTrading standards officers have complained that there are too few test houses capable of testing fireworks for safety, and that those local authorities doing the most testing will face a financial burden. The Health and Safety Executive is concerned that it is not its proper function to test fireworks and that it is the proper responsibility of trading standards departments. My Department is looking into the arrangements for the testing of fireworks.