§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what efforts are being made to reduce the risks that are present when consumers purchase fireworks from illegitimate outlets; [134335]
(2) what guidance she gives to the public on ensuring that the fireworks that they buy are from legitimate sources. [134336]
§ Mr. SutcliffeUnder the Explosives Act 1875, which is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive, retail premises are required to be registered with the local authority in order to store and display fireworks for sale. The 1875 Act also makes it illegal to sell fireworks in the street. Trading standards departments are responsible for enforcing these measures giving them particular priority during the firework season.
The Department, through the annual fireworks safety campaign, urges the public to take care when using fireworks and make sure when buying fireworks they are marked as complying with British Standard 7114, the British safety standard for consumer fireworks.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what action her Department is taking with the Home Office to keep fireworks from being a nuisance; [134337]
(2) what plans her Department has to enable authorities to keep track of fireworks once they have left the port of entry. [134338]
§ Mr. SutcliffeThe Fireworks Act 2003, which received the Royal Assent on 18 September, will allow the Department to make regulations covering a range of firework issues which we are currently unable to regulate under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. These include restricting firework sales and use, licensing of retailers, controlling noise and nuisance and the importation of fireworks.
We hope to implement the part of the Act concerning the creating an offence for possession of fireworks by those under 18 years of age by Christmas. The Department is currently having discussions with the Home Office.
We will start implementation of the part of the Act in relation to the importation of fireworks in the New Year. This relates to the giving of information on firework imports to help keep track of fireworks once they have left the point of entry.
§ Ross CranstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will lay regulations under the Fireworks Act 2003. [131661]
§ Mr. SutcliffeThe majority of regulations to be made under the Fireworks Act 2003 are expected to be laid in the summer of 2004.
The Department is also looking into the possibility of implementing certain parts of the Act that deal with the anti-social use of fireworks—possibly before Christmas, in which case regulations could be laid in December.
175W
§ Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations will take place on regulations to be introduced under the Fireworks Bill; with whom consultations will be held; and over what period. [131405]
§ Mr. Sutcliffe[holding answer 14 October 2003]: The Department has begun preliminary consultations with key stakeholders on the form that Fireworks Regulations will take. Draft Regulations will be published, along with a Regulatory Impact Assessment, in spring 2004. Therefore, we expect Regulations to become law in Summer 2004?in good time for next year's fireworks season.
In the immediate term, the Department is also looking into the possibility of implementing those parts of the Act identified as dealing with the anti-social use of fireworks, which, if judged suitable, will be implemented before the end of the year. We have already had preliminary consultations on this and, if Regulations are to be made, we will consult on these shortly.
Our stakeholders include other Government Departments; the Police Service; trading standards; religious groups; the industry and retailer representatives; and, interested groups such as the RSPCA and the Guide Dog for the Blind Association.
§ Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she was consulted about the statement made by a Department official to the Yorkshire Evening Post and published on 15 September 2003, concerning Regulations under the Fireworks Bill and the absence of limitations on the period of sale of fireworks; and if she will make a statement. [131407]
§ Mr. Sutcliffe[holding answer 14 October 2003]: The statement made is fully in line with the Department's current thinking on the form that Fireworks Regulations may take.
The question of limitations on periods of sale requires careful consideration given the culturally diverse celebrations involving the use of fireworks. The Department is still formulating Regulations with regard to specific sections of the Act and will be consulting widely.