§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the importation of illegal fireworks into Northern Ireland in the last three years; what seizures have been made; what categories of illegal fireworks have been found; and what was the country of manufacture. [2494]
§ Sir John Wheeler[holding answer 7 November 1996]: The Chief Constable has advised me that police made 93 seizures in 1994, 31 in 1995, and that 100 seizures have been made so far this year. Illegal fireworks recovered were from categories 1 (indoor), 2 (garden) and 3 (display) and had been manufactured in China, France, Germany or Austria.
Quantities of illegal fireworks seized in 1996 have amounted to approximately 34 tonnes, a considerable increase on the 1 to 2 tonnes of previous years.
My officials, in consultation with the RUC and others, will be considering what lessons are to be learnt from this year's experience.