Fireworks: Public Sales Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
George Howarth
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Fireworks: Public Sales
George Howarth Excerpts(5 years, 4 months ago)
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Kelly Tolhurst
To answer the hon. Lady’s direct question, I have the data regarding the volumes as opposed to how many premises or individuals—[Interruption.] The volumes that I said, the 50 kg of—[Interruption.]
Mr George Howarth (in the Chair)
Order. I do not think we can have mumbling from a sedentary position.
Kelly Tolhurst
I said that the information I have is in regards to the volume and not to how that volume is made up.
Although only a minority of users of fireworks misuse them, I understand that one individual can have a massive impact on a community. That is why the Government continue to believe that the best way to continue to reduce any distress caused by fireworks is to work with industry, retailers and others to promote their safe and responsible use through guidance and public education and to ensure that appropriate action is taken against those who break the rules.
At the previous debate in January, the then Minister with responsibility for fireworks had just announced the creation of the new Office for Product Safety and Standards, and I am delighted that the office is already working with industry, retailers, charities and others, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and Netmums, to promote the safe and responsible use of fireworks and raise consumer awareness of firework safety. The campaign that the office has undertaken, with its partners, has reached more than a million people through social media, GP surgeries and post offices. The office has also been providing access to expert advice to support trading standards work in enforcing the regulations, including through the funding of the testing of potentially unsafe fireworks.