Fireworks (Hansard, 25 October 2001)

§ Richard Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action is being taken by(a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) other parts of his Department to ensure that bulk fireworks entering the UK are taken to licensed storage facilities; and what checks are made at the port of entry. [9788]

§ Dr. Whitehead
[holding answer 24 October 2001]: Neither DTLR nor HSE carries out routine checks at the port of entry on bulk fireworks entering Great Britain or on their destination. Any such arrangements would be a disproportionate burden on industry and would not be an effective use of enforcement resources.

§ Richard Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received from the firework industry on the control and monitoring of bulk supplies of fireworks entering the UK, with particular reference to checks at ports of entry. [9789]

§ Dr. Whitehead
[holding answer 24 October 2001]: We have received no representations from the fireworks industry on the control and monitoring of bulk supplies of fireworks entering the UK. HM Customs and Excise undertakes intelligence led risk-based checks at ports of entry and where it has concerns it would notify HSE and/or the relevant local authority for the fireworks' destination.

§ Richard Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations he has received from(a) the firework industry and (b) local authorities regarding reports of illegal storage of fireworks in (i) the west Midlands, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Leicestershire; and what action he has taken in response to those representations. [9787]

§ Dr. Whitehead
[holding answer 24 October 2001]: We have received no representations from the fireworks industry or from local authorities on reports of illegal storage of fireworks in the west Midlands, Lancashire and Leicestershire. However, I understand local authorities in Lancashire and Leicestershire have contacted HSE for advice about illegal storage of fireworks. I understand that enforcement action has been taken by local authorities.