HC Deb 13 March 1996 vol 273 cc668-70W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many people were killed or injured as a result of accidents involving fireworks in each year since 1966 by region and firework type. [20206]

Mr. John M. Taylor

The numbers of firework injuries since 1966, in total and by firework type, are given in the figures.

Analyses of firework accidents by region have been published and are available for 1990 and succeeding years until 1994. Copies of these analyses have been deposited in the Library of the House.

For years earlier than 1990, obtaining regional data would incur disproportionate cost.

Others Bangers R Candles etc. Rockets Sparklers Total accidents
1970 410 379 257 167 1,213
1971 414 334 232 134 1,114
1972 531 391 270 132 1,324
1973 447 379 294 129 1,249
1974 452 237 159 79 927
1975 350 208 119 89 766
1976 274 159 89 91 72 685
1977 291 178 112 87 65 733
1978 388 212 160 122 71 953
1979 310 190 124 73 48 745
1980 240 135 81 66 33 555
1981 257 167 107 102 48 681
1982 284 147 84 71 40 626
1983 333 184 114 107 95 833
1984 320 175 103 115 65 778
1985 373 241 90 197 67 968
1986 358 161 88 159 80 846
1987 432 163 96 174 95 960
1988 366 162 83 164 102 877
1989 361 136 89 131 83 800
1990 344 158 66 144 93 805
1991 316 146 68 92 101 723
1992 355 170 71 169 177 942
1993 504 169 40 156 189 1,058
1994 743 268 95 215 253 1,574

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the volume of firework sales in each of the last five years. [20208]

Mr. Taylor

The number of individual fireworks sold to consumers throughout Great Britain in the years 1991 to 1995 is estimated by my Department as follows:

Year Million
1991 134
1992 138
1993 141
1994 154
1995 1172
1 Provisional.

These figures have been drawn from discussions with all parts of the industry.

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the latest firework injury statistics; and what evidence he has as to how they relate to the changing volume of fireworks on the market. [20207]

Mr. Taylor

The firework injuries statistics from the 1995 census in Great Britain are not yet available but should be so by the end of this month. Analysis of the relation of accident numbers to sales volume will be possible when the statistics are available.

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many firework injuries occurred on new year's eve 1995. [20205]

Mr. Taylor

An estimate of the number of firework accidents occurring on 31 December 1995 would have to be based on data collected in a sample of hospital accident and emergency units by the home accident surveillance system. These data are not yet available.

Mr. Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will set out the latest firework injury statistics for 1995 by region and by firework type. [20204]

Mr. Taylor

Statistics from the 1995 census of fireworks injuries are not yet available but my Department hopes to publish them before the end of this month.

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