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Remember the words
of the firework industry, "unless you are in
before the consultative process you have missed
it". They have been in through the
open door for the industry at the DTI, and always
before the consultative process, on each and
every occasion. Is it any wonder why little
has been done in the legislative field and we are
still under the 1875 Explosives Act?
So Labour were elected
after all with a similar huge majority to their
first victory. That should be good news to
all reformists everywhere. No doubt the
animal Welfare and Rights Bills will now go
forward. A new Bill on the Environment is
needed, as well as guarantees not to capitulate
to the conservatives, whether they are in the US
or here, on the World important Kyoto Agreement.
Noise is now a huge issue with firework displays
going on throughout the whole year. People
have to put up with displays, which take place
now either before or after every Concert, Pop or
Classical and for every conceivable occasion,
Birthdays, Anniversaries, and commercial events.
We are members of the UK Noise Association;
UKNA and the National Campaign for Firework
Safety urge a new Bill on this long ignored issue.
Meetings did take place earlier in the year with
UKNA and Michael Meacher the Environmental
Secretary, we are still awaiting the outcome.
A return of the Fireworks Safety Regulations Bill
circa 1998, but updated to include import
restrictions, and the areas when and where
fireworks can be sold should now go forward.
We fought for a Labour victory so there can be no
prevarication or holding back now.
Every supportive campaigner should get out there
and fight for these measures, including the big
organisations, such as the RSPCA, The Fire
Brigades Union, the Doctors, Nurses, Teachers,
Policemen, and workers in the emergency services,
and all members of the TUC which have a link with
our site.
When Eric Forth MP and Edward Leigh MP brought
down the Firework Safety Regulations Bill
in 1998, 29 years of hard work and representation
of those killed and injured by fireworks and the
many thousands traumatised by fireworks each year
went down the tubes.
There can be no further excuses about
Parliamentary time and the lack of it. The
Campaign must continue to press until we see a
Bill before us. Remember the words of the
firework industry, "unless you are in before
the consultative process you have missed it".
They have been in through the open door for the
industry at the DTI, and always before the
consultative process, on each and every occasion.
Is it any wonder why little has been done in the
legislative field and we are still under the 1875
Explosives Act?
Get a letter to your MP as soon as possible and
follow it up with a meeting. We will
continue to hold meetings with MPs, who support
our cause, at the House of Commons. All the
MPs who are sympathetic to the Campaign
have been re-elected. Also you can ask for
a meeting with your Council's Environment and
Leisure Committee, and Health and Safety
Committee, and put forward your views and ask
them to lobby their MPs.
We, also, are campaigning for a new Department of
Prices and Consumer Protection. It is our
contention that the Department of Trade is an
entire lobby for industry and is no suitable
place to have the Consumer Protection Unit.
We need a Government department with its own
staff and Ministers working exclusively to help
the consumer
More next month about the letter which has just
arrived from the European Commission regarding
the action they intend to take on the Chinese
firework tragedy when 41 children were killed
whilst making fireworks for a local company.
Best wishes as usual
Noel
June 2001
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