§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where each of the container loads of Red Lion fireworks were stored; for how long, and what monitoring was carried out during storage. [41728]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe nominated legal place of keeping required for Red Lion fireworks was at Chorley. Samples were taken of the fireworks held there and submitted to compliance testing at recognised test houses. Seven container loads were moved to Chorley on 16 and 17 September and three of those were subsequently re-exported on 23 September.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reports the Health and Safety Executive has received from Cleveland trading standards departments about the number of fireworks produced by Black Cat which contain sulphur chlorate, and what response the HSE has made. [41774]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe HSE received information from Cleveland trading standards department of first one and then a further eight fireworks sold by Black Cat that were alleged to contain sulphur and chlorate admixtures.
603WEach firework type mentioned was tested by the health and safety laboratory for the HSE, the results were evaluated and as a result a general recall was ordered for the "Thunderstorm". Results obtained for the remainder were sent in writing to the Cleveland trading standards department on 1 November 1995.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration the HSE has given to prosecuting Kanash Ltd. and the Royal Ordnance factory in respect of Red Lion fireworks and if he will make a statement. [41778]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe HSE issued notices to Kanash Ltd. to prohibit any further distribution or sale of those Red Lion fireworks which failed spot checks. The question of legal proceedings is under consideration.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information about compliance with BS 7114 appeared on the "Thunderstorm" firework produced by Red Lion Fireworks; and what assessment he has made as to the extent of such compliance. [41787]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe label on the "Thunderstorm" firework says that is complies with BS7114:2:88. Tests for compliance are carried out by trading standard officers.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when and by whom the HSE was informed of the presence of sulphur chlorate in "Thunderstorm" fireworks, produced by Black Cat; and what action was taken on the basis of the information supplied. [41772]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordInformation was received in two ways. The more comprehensive was provided by trading standards offices in Cleveland on 26 October and led to the further sampling and testing by HSE on 27 and 28 and the general recall then immediately ordered.
Earlier information received from a competitor company on 3 and 17 October was less precise and came only after HSE had visited Black Cat as part of its national campaign.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment where and when were tests carried out on the consignment of Red Lion fireworks; what were the results; and when they were communicated to the HSE. [41776]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe sequence of events was set out by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Competition and Consumer Affairs on 1 November 1995,Official Report, columns 273–74.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which companies' firework products were tested by the Health and Safety Executive for sulphur chlorate between 1965 and 1995; which products were involved; and what were the results and dates of the tests. [41790]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordDue to statutory restrictions on disclosure of information it is not possible in the time available to list the names of the companies involved. Information for years prior to 1984 would be available only at disproportionate cost.
604W
Year Number of companies Number of fireworks tested Number fail test Number pass test 1995* 13 30 3 27 1993 Not recorded 17 0 3 1992 Not recorded 3 0 17 1991 1 1 0 1 1990 1 1 1 0 1989 — — — — 1988 1 3 0 3 1987 11 126 3 123 1986 10 80 9 71 1985 —. — — — 1984 5 47 0 47 Total 311 16 295
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are now the whereabouts of the container loads of Red Lion fireworks. [41729]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordI understand that some fireworks remain in the leased depot at Chorley, but the bulk were distributed to various parts of the United Kingdom. The importer is co-operating with the Health and Safety Executive in providing full details and is recalling all its imported fireworks.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many container loads of Red Lion fireworks were at the Royal Ordnance depot in Chorley; for how long; and what tests were carried out there. [41775]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordSeven container loads of fireworks were moved to Chorley on 16 and 17 September when released from the port of importation. Three of them were re-exported on 23 September.
Samples were taken for testing at recognised test houses in Derbyshire and Yorkshire, and later by HSE for check test purposes.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment is sulphur chlorate is permitted as a constituent of fireworks. [41789]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordOrder in Council 15 of 30 April 1894 to the Explosives Act 1875 prohibits the manufacture, import, keeping, conveyance or sale of any fireworks containing an admixture of sulphur and chlorate.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements the Health and Safety Executive put in place to investigate and monitor Kanash Ltd. and Red Lion fireworks. [41727]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Health and Safety Executive made arrangements to receive test reports from recognised test houses in Great Britain—to show compliance with British standard 7114:1988 and with Order in Council 15 on the prohibition of admixtures of sulphur with a chlorate before distribution could begin. All results were satisfactory and authorisation was given. However, two fireworks failed spot checks and prohibitions were then placed on any further distribution of them.
605W
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the steps taken by the HSE to ensure the withdrawal of "Thunderstorm" fireworks from sale. [41773]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe distributor, Black Cat, was required to stop any further distribution and to make arrangments to recover all "Thunderstorm" fireworks or selection boxes which contained that item from its retail outlets. At the same time, a press notice was issued to advise the public that a fault had been detected and that the firework or selection box should be returned to the place of purchase.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what attempts the HSE have made to trace buyers of Red Lion fireworks; and what records Kanash Ltd. has provided to assist them. [41777]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Health and Safety Executive issued a press notice to alert the public and Kanash Ltd. has been co-operating with officials in recalling the fireworks in question.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when Kanash Ltd. applied to the Health and Safety Executive for approval to import Red Lion fireworks to the United Kingdom; what was the Health and Safety Executive's response to that application; and what was the date of that response. [41724]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe sequence of events was set out by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Competition and Consumer Affairs on 1 November 1995,Official Report, columns 273–74.
§ Mr. Richard BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the terms of the approval given to Kanash Ltd. regarding the import of Red Lion fireworks. [41725]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordKanash Ltd. was required to show evidence of compliance with conditions for authorisation as set out in section 40(9) of the Explosives Act 1875, as amended.
§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the implications for the import of explosive devices into the United Kingdom of non-compliance with BS7114. [41768]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordBS7114 relates only to fireworks. Compliance with that standard is one of the main conditions to be satisfied for the authorisation of any firework and is an important element in deciding if any particular firework is safe. Non-compliance means that the firework cannot be supplied in Great Britain.