§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the number of animals injured by fireworks in each year from 1986 to 1990.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Home Office holds no information on which to make such an estimate. The safety of fireworks in the hands of the consumer is the responsibility of the Department of Trade and Industry.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many shopkeepers have been prosecuted for selling fireworks to minors in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is an offence under section 31 of the Explosives Act 1875 as amended by the Explosives Act (Age of Purchase etc.) Act 1976 section 1 to sell fireworks to children under the age of 16. Information for England and Wales, which may be incomplete, is given in the table. The Scottish Office Home and Health Department cannot separately identify offences in this category.
Number of defendants prosecuted for selling fireworks to children under 16 years of age England and Wales Year Prosecutions 1980 — 1981 — 1982 — 1983 — 1984 — 1985 — 1986 8 1987 2 1988 3 1989 —