Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of restricting the access of fireworks to (a) professional operators and (b) organised and regulated displays.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government is considering a range of approaches to reducing the harm and distress from the use of consumer fireworks while preserving safe and responsible use and recently consulted on measures to further restrict access to consumers of certain products. The consultation closed on 7 October 2026 and the Government is reviewing responses. Decisions on any future legislative changes will be informed by the evidence received.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of limiting the use of fireworks to specific times and days.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Existing legislation already restricts the use of fireworks between 11pm and 7am, with later cut-off times for Bonfire Night, New Year, Diwali and Chinese New Year. The Government recently concluded a public consultation on targeted reforms to fireworks and pyrotechnics legislation, launched in response to public and parliamentary concerns about noise, safety and misuse. The consultation closed on 7 October 2026 and the Government is reviewing responses, which will help inform decisions on any future legislative or policy changes.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has considered the potential merits of introducing a fit and proper person test for people applying for licenses to store and sell fireworks.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The existing framework already includes licensing requirements for the storage of fireworks above prescribed quantities and for the year-round supply of fireworks to consumers outside the permitted seasonal sales periods. Applications for licences to store fireworks above prescribed quantities are determined by the relevant licensing authority in accordance with the Explosives Regulations 2014. Retailers must also comply with statutory requirements governing the sale of fireworks, including age restrictions, which are enforced by Trading Standards authorities. The Government made no formal assessment of introducing a fit and proper person test for applicants seeking licences to store or sell fireworks.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory licensing scheme for all businesses selling fireworks.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The existing framework already includes licensing requirements for the storage of fireworks above prescribed quantities and for the year-round supply of fireworks to consumers outside the permitted seasonal sales periods. Applications for licences to store fireworks above prescribed quantities are determined by the relevant licensing authority in accordance with the Explosives Regulations 2014. Retailers must also comply with statutory requirements governing the sale of fireworks, including age restrictions, which are enforced by Trading Standards authorities. The Government made no formal assessment of introducing a fit and proper person test for applicants seeking licences to store or sell fireworks.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling fire services to consider anti-social behaviour risks when considering granting licenses to sell and store fireworks.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has not made a formal assessment of enabling fire and rescue services to consider anti-social behaviour risks when granting licences to store fireworks. Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for certain fireworks storage licences, while local authorities are responsible for licences permitting sales outside the permitted selling periods.
There are enforcement mechanisms in place to tackle situations when fireworks are sold illegally or misused. The police and local authorities have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of powers available to the Government to restrict and suspend the sale and use of fireworks during periods of exceptional fire risk.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government keeps under review the measures available to respond to periods of exceptional fire risk. We will continue to consider whether the existing framework remains appropriate in light of the available evidence and engagement with relevant partners. During periods of elevated wildfire risk, those using or organising fireworks should follow advice from Government and local fire and rescue services, take account of local conditions, and undertake appropriate risk assessments.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of (a) the capacity of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services to meet patient demand across England, (b) the estimated number of treatments missed due to delayed transport, and (c) the estimated cost to the NHS of appointments missed for this reason.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 1 June to Question 1646. The Department has not made a specific assessment of the capacity of non-emergency patient transport services to meet patient demand across England. Data on the number of treatments or appointments missed due to delayed transport, and the associated cost to the National Health Service, is not held centrally.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what timetable the UK National Screening Committee is working to for the EquipoISE project; and whether the inclusion of metachromatic leukodystrophy in a multi-condition in-service evaluation has been confirmed.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 April in response to Question 124565.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the Information Commissioners' Office on the impact of camera-enabled smart glasses on privacy.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises that camera-enabled smart glasses and similar wearable technologies can raise privacy considerations.
My department engages regularly with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator, on data protection and privacy matters, including the impact of emerging technologies.
The ICO has recently published guidance on how Internet of Things products and services, such as smart glasses and similar products, can process data of consumers fairly and transparently. It has also discussed the privacy implications of smart glasses with international counterparts through the G7 Data Protection and Privacy Authorities Roundtable. The Government will continue to monitor this area closely.
Asked by: Mary Glindon (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Information Commissioners' Office is taking to adapt to the impact of AI technologies on privacy.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the UK’s data protection legislation independently of Government. The ICO has published guidance on artificial intelligence (AI) and data protection and is working with organisations on the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies: (see https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/what-we-do/our-work-on-artificial-intelligence/working-groups-and-how-you-can-work-with-us/).
The Government recently used powers under the Data Protection Act 2018 to require the ICO to produce a statutory Code of Practice on Artificial Intelligence and Automated Decision-Making. The ICO also operates a regulatory sandbox to support organisations developing innovative products and services that use personal data in safe and responsible ways.
The Government continues to work closely with the ICO to ensure that innovation in AI is underpinned by high standards of data protection and public trust.