National Campaign for Firework Safety
Our aim is to promote the safe use of  fireworks

The longest operating firework safety campaign in the UK the National Campaign for Firework Safety, which began in November 1969, is supporting the first of 3 Bills coming up in the House from next Wednesday 27 February.  Three MPs have put forward Bills.

The first is Joan Ryan MP, who had a young constituent killed by fireworks in December 2001.
She is going for a straightforward ban on retail sales of fireworks.  "Retail sales of fireworks getting into the hands of under age children, irresponsible youths, and selfish adults who annoy their neighbours at midnight and beyond with firework displays was responsible for most problems with fireworks, particularly injuries to children and animals", admitted the DTI last year.

"Last year was one of the worst years ever for firework injuries to people and animals, and although the Government have as usual done nothing to help the situation, MPs are now helping themselves with the rather limited powers they possess, through Bills in Parliament", said the campaign founder and Director Noel Tobin, who has tried to get Bills into parliament under several different Governments. At the end of the day, only the most minor proposals have been passed since the 1960s,  usually Bills dealing with the age of purchase of fireworks, the only Bills the firework industry would approve.

A Bill by Barry Gardiner MP will have its second Reading on March 15. This will deal with licensed firework displays, and the licensing of fireworks in the shops.  A third Bill also to ban retail sales will be coming up soon.   Last month the Consumer Affairs Minister Melanie Johnson MP said that 337 MPs had written to her about the need for  firework reforms, and a new Bill, more than half the whole House of Commons. There had been problems with fireworks in every area of the country, and children and animals were particularly affected.

The campaign have asked the Prime Minister to take the proposals of Joan Ryan and Barry Gardiner, and shape them into a new Bill banning retail sales of fireworks to the public, but licensing fireworks for displays only put on by trained personnel in a training scheme run by the industry.  "We have surveyed other countries said NCFS Director Noel Tobin, and they have solved their firework problems through these measures"

NOEL TOBIN - DIRECTOR
February 2002