HC Deb 03 February 1994 vol 236 cc814-5W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had from the British Standards Institute on the abolition of import licences for fireworks.

Mr. McLoughlin

[holding answer 1 February 19941: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has had no representations from the British Standards Institution relating to abolition of import licences for fireworks.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what further representations he has had from the British Pyrotechnists Association on his proposals to abolish import licences for fireworks with particular reference to category 4;

(2) if he will make it his policy to amend the Consumer Protection Act 1987 to exclude category 4 fireworks from retail sales.

Mr. McLoughlin

[holding answer 1 February 1994]: On 27 January the British Pyrotechnists Association met my noble Friend Lord Strathclyde, the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms, to discuss the position of category 4 fireworks under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 following the recent changes by the Health and Safety Executive to the legislation relating to the import of fireworks.

The powers available in sections 10 and 13 of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 are adequate to deal with the sale of category devices to the general public. The association has, however, promised to put forward suggestions for reinforcing the present arrangements for limiting the availability of category 4 fireworks to members of the general public and these will be considered.

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