§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures are being taken to enforce the age restriction on the sale of fireworks. [133216]
§ Mr. SutcliffeNo further measures are being taken to enforce the age restriction on the sale of fireworks under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997. Recent research undertaken indicates that trading standards departments generally give high-priority to firework matters during the firework season including enforcement of the age restriction. This often includes test purchasing by under 18s in many trading standards authority areas.
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to prevent firework-related injuries. [133225]
§ Mr. SutcliffeThe DTI's annual firework safety campaign aims to encourage the public to take care when using fireworks in order to help reduce the number of firework-related injuries. This year's campaign is focusing on the misuse of fireworks by young teenagers and the safe use of sparklers by young children.
Also the provisions of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997 governing the safety of fireworks used by the public and the fireworks industry's voluntary ban on air bomb type fireworks both help in preventing firework-related injuries.