Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Fireworks

02 November 2020 · 7 other contributors · 11,678 words

Opened by Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower

Responding minister: Paul Scully

Crime & Law EnforcementMental HealthEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Tonia Antoniazzi raised concerns about fireworks in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Ms Antoniazzi is concerned about the distress and danger fireworks cause to people with disabilities, health conditions, small children, wild animals, and pets, citing nearly 2,000 visits to A&E due to firework injuries in 2018-19.
  • Lisa Cameron notes that easy access to fireworks and poor enforcement of legislation have a detrimental effect on pets, causing long-term anxiety and physical harm, and highlights the impact on people with PTSD.
  • Ms Thewliss is concerned about the misuse of fireworks in her constituency, including incidents involving aggressive imagery on casings and the risk of fires in buildings affected by the cladding scandal.

Key requests to Government

Ms Antoniazzi calls for a ban on the sale of fireworks, especially this year, due to safety concerns and the burden on NHS. She suggests implementing permit schemes managed by local authorities to limit firework displays in areas, creating a national awareness scheme about responsible use, and rethinking how fireworks are packaged to reduce their appeal to children and those who misuse them. Cameron calls for further restrictions on the sale of fireworks, limiting them to licensed public events only at certain times of the year. She suggests using lower-decibel fireworks and a review of fireworks legislation to introduce more restrictions on their use. The MP also encourages people to donate firework money to the NHS this year. Ms Thewliss asks the Government to devolve powers over fireworks to the Scottish Government so that they can implement stricter controls based on evidence and understanding of local issues. She requests increased legislative proposals or a comprehensive review of the current regulatory framework, which she deems inadequate.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower

Ms Antoniazzi is concerned about the distress and danger that fireworks cause to people with disabilities, health conditions, small children, wild animals, and pets. She mentions that in 2018-19, there were nearly 2,000 visits to A&E linked to fireworks injuries; in 2018, 4,436 individuals sought medical help due to firework-related injuries, resulting in almost 1,000 hospital admissions over five years. She is worried about the potential increase in demand on emergency services this year during the pandemic and notes that organised displays are being cancelled but not a ban on sales to the public. Lisa Cameron is concerned about the impact of fireworks on both domestic and wild animals, particularly pet dogs. She notes that easy access to fireworks and poor enforcement of legislation have a detrimental effect on pets, causing distress, tremors with fear, physical sickness, hiding for hours after loud bangs, and long-term anxiety. The MP highlights specific incidents such as a dog losing its ear due to malicious firework use and wildlife injuries like starlings being injured or killed. She also mentions the impact on people with PTSD, including veterans, who are triggered by fireworks. Ms Thewliss is concerned about the misuse and irresponsible use of fireworks in her constituency, particularly in Pollokshields where there have been incidents involving aggressive imagery on fireworks casings and their use as weapons against police. She mentions a resident who found empty casings with aggressive imagery and another who reported hearing daily fireworks since July. A petition from constituents has 414 signatures over several years. She highlights issues such as children being near exploding fireworks, pets experiencing panic attacks due to noise, and the risk of fires in buildings affected by the cladding scandal.

Other contributors (7)
  • Alan Whitehead Lab Southampton, Test

    Congratulations the hon. Friend for bringing forward the debate and thanks those who signed an e-petition with nearly three quarters of a million signatures in just three years. He supports local groups and charities running firework displays as they provide safe spaces and promote community cohesion, but calls for better protection against misuse. Mentions that organisations want to limit sales to private individuals to public events only to protect animals from loud noises and to raise awareness about the environmental impact of fireworks.

  • Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd

    Called for greater regulation of fireworks, expressing concerns about their impact on people with mental illness and animals. Raised the issue of private backyard displays during the pandemic leading to potential increase in antisocial behaviour and risks to health and safety.

  • Alison Thewliss SNP Glasgow Central

    The trading standards team in Glasgow has seized 500 fireworks despite there being 73 legal premises for buying fireworks, indicating that the current system is not effective.

  • Christian Wakeford Lab Bury South

    The MP expressed concerns about the misuse of fireworks, leading to antisocial behaviour and distress for pets, veterans, dementia sufferers, and parents. He cited instances where fireworks were set off in his constituency at inconvenient times, causing fear and anxiety. The MP advocated for stricter regulations on firework sales, noise levels, and licensing requirements to protect vulnerable groups.

  • Elliot Colburn Lab Carshalton and Wallington

    Mr Colburn thanked constituents who signed a petition on fireworks, noting that 680 out of nearly 900 respondents favoured restrictions. He expressed concern over the impact of fireworks on animals and antisocial behaviour, citing incidents such as property damage and distress to pets like his golden retriever, Willow. Mr Colburn acknowledged the value of community events but called for a balanced approach to address constituent concerns.

  • Mike Amesbury Labour Co-op Abbey Wood

    Up and down the country, constituencies are starting to sound like war zones. A constituent, Richard Smith, a veteran who suffers acutely at this time of year, advocates for organised, licensed events and tougher penalties such as fixed-penalty notices.

  • Patricia Gibson SNP North Ayrshire and Arran

    Ms Gibson expressed concerns about the irresponsible use of fireworks during non-organised events, leading to distress for residents, animals, and veterans. She cited a lack of progress since 2017 regarding product safety measures and urged the Minister to conduct a consultation on banning public sales of fireworks. Additionally, she highlighted the difficulties in regulating firework misuse due to restricted legislative power in Scotland.

Government Response

Paul Scully

The Government acknowledges the concerns raised about fireworks, including their impact on animals, public safety, antisocial behaviour, and environmental issues. However, they argue that a ban would not be proportionate or effective as it could push the market underground, making regulation more difficult. Instead, the minister highlights existing regulations under the Fireworks Act 2003, the Fireworks Regulations 2004, and the Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015, which provide a framework to manage risks while allowing enjoyment of fireworks. The Office for Product Safety and Standards is conducting tests on retail fireworks to determine their noise levels and potential impacts. The Government has also launched an awareness campaign to educate the public on safe and considerate use of fireworks, partnering with various organisations including RSPCA and local authorities. These efforts aim to address concerns through education rather than a blanket ban.

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