National Campaign for Firework Safety
Noel's Page                                        March 2002

"Joan Ryan said that her constituent 13 year old Martin Lamparter had been killed by fireworks last December.  This event has devastated his family and the local community.  This was not an isolated incident. There had been 5 fatalities in as many years directly attributable to fireworks. Yet these fatalities have not led to a change in legislation which the public were calling out for."

On 15 March, I went along to the House of Commons for a meeting of CAFFA the Coalition against Fireworks for Animals.  People had come dressed in animal costumes for the photo-call which we had with Barry Gardiner MP and Joan Ryan MP.

Tony Banks MP joined us later at the meeting in a Committee Room in the House. Whom, I have known since the 1980s when he was Vice Chair of the GLC. The GLC always took a lead on firework safety as campaigners will remember, and made a splendid Exhibition for us at Jubilee Gardens, by County Hall, in London, which went on for several weeks.

Joan Ryan said that her constituent 13 year old Martin Lamparter had been killed by fireworks last December.  This event has devastated his family and the local community.  This was not an isolated incident. There had been 5 fatalities in as many years directly attributable to fireworks. Yet these fatalities have not led to a change in legislation which the public were calling out for.

Only those who are trained and licensed should have access to fireworks, because even when they are used, within the law and with the best of intentions, they are still proving hazardous.  In addition it is discriminatory to allow the sale of fireworks to the public to commemorate one historical and cultural event bonfire night but to deny other celebrations such as Diwali and the Chinese New Year. The only safe and fair option is a complete ban on the retail sales of fireworks to the general public.  All festivals would thus be entitled to include fireworks as part of their celebrations, provided that they were used in organised and licensed displays.

A ban on retail sales and possession by the public of fireworks will invest the law with greater clarity and make it a lot easier to prosecute those who violate it. Numerous statistics demonstrate the need for reform to current firework legislation, for which neither the Firework safety regulations 1997 nor the Consumer Protection Act 1987 make adequate provision. There is tremendous need and equal support for this Bill.

After further speeches by the MPs they made an appeal that all animal welfare organisations should come under the umbrella of the National Campaign for Firework Safety. I made a similar plea in my speech pointing out that we had supplied most MPs and organisations with research and information, and Government would never listen us to unless we all stood and worked together.  This was supported by the representative from the RSPCA who said  they worked entirely with us.

Meeting with the Prime Minister Tony Blair
The MPs said the Prime Minister Tony Blair had called them to a meeting the previous week.  The Prime Minister expressed interest in another firework Bill, because of the huge problems that were being caused by fireworks year on year. He was aware both Barry Gardiner MP and Joan Ryan MP were doing 10-Minute Rule Bills on fireworks.  They told the PM that they were forming a Parliamentary Group of MPs on the subject. He asked them to liaise with Ministers at the DTI and the Home Office.

At the meeting Barry Gardiner went on to say he too (as well as the campaign) wanted fireworks moved to the Home Office, where it would be dealt with more sympathetically. They asked for a representative to meet with the DTI, and I said that as Director of NCFS the only full time National Organisation, I would want to be that nominated person.

The MPs also said that the second readings of their Bills would not take place, as there was no Parliamentary time for 10-Minute Rule Bills.  Barry Gardener's Bill dealt with the measures in the 1998 Firework Safety Regulations, which was talked out, whilst Joan Ryan's Bill is a straight ban on retail sales. They are two sides of the same coin. However both must be taken together to deal effectively with the escalating firework problems.

Best wishes
Noel

March 2002

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