Fireworks: Sale and Use Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Peter Gibson
Main Page: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)Department Debates - View all Peter Gibson's debates with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(3 years ago)
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Peter Gibson (Darlington) (Con)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg. I pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Elliot Colburn) for leading the debate. I place on record my thanks to my 524 constituents who took the time to sign this petition on the sale of fireworks.
We all know how special 5 November is for people across the country, as we celebrate the foiling of the gunpowder plot in 1605, merely yards from where we are today. Many people look forward to bonfires and dazzling firework shows, especially after the cancellation of scheduled events last year. I know the excitement and anticipation in Darlington about the return of the organised display in South Park in 2022, thanks to the leadership of the Conservative council.
However, many people are also afraid of the impacts of unscheduled, home-based displays on pets and loved ones with health conditions. From reports of events here in Westminster over the weekend, we also know that fireworks can be used as weapons and pose a threat to the safety of our hard-working police officers.
As a dog owner, I well understand the concerns of Darlington pet owners for their beloved pets. Similarly, the impact on family members suffering from conditions such as PTSD is a worry. I have been moved by the responses to my snap call for views over the past few days, as constituents have told me distressing stories of how their loved ones and animals suffer from overly loud, overly disruptive firework displays put on by residents in Darlington.
However, the overriding opinion is that a complete ban on fireworks is counterproductive. It is right that the Government focus on ensuring that an enforceable, comprehensive framework is in place to control availability and use. Under existing guidance, using fireworks outside curfew hours is a criminal offence, which can be enforced by the police and can lead to imprisonment and a substantial fine, but we rarely hear of it being enforced. We know that the antisocial use of fireworks continues around the country, and I look forward to the Minister outlining the progress his Department has made to clamp down on illegal fireworks, which continue to be bought online or on the black market.