FIREWORKS

click here to read the latest debate
(27th Feb)

One of the most ancient of our common law rights is the right to the quiet enjoyment of our home. Noise caused by aircraft, motorbikes, lawn mowers and amplified music from pubs, clubs and buskers all generate heart-felt complaints. But nothing causes as much indignation as fireworks.

What an irony that in Salisbury, when no one can agree on how to mark a celebration, we usually settle for a firework display! And some very fine displays we have had - and will enjoy.

Now, I love a good fireworks party - always have, even though as a kid some sort of flying whiz-bang shot under my school cap and singed my hair (it could have been my eye). It didn't put me off, but taught me a lesson about safety. The amazing thing is that in the UK there are so few significant firework injuries - though one is one too many.

Every year fireworks fall into the hands of kids below the legal age of purchase. Every year some vile thug gets away with torturing animals with fireworks - in spite of the law. Someone can always be relied upon to be a bad neighbour and let off bangers or rockets which frighten children, the hard-of-hearing and pets - in spite of our common law.

But most people behave responsibly and reasonably - and most people love fireworks all the year round. After all, it is really only the English who celebrate November 5th.

In the last three months I've had more complaints about fireworks than in the last decade. It isn't the flashes - it is the bangs. Sometimes very big bangs indeed. I loathe them, too. It has gone too far - and the silent majority have had enough. Most people don't want to ban fireworks; we just want to ban the bombs!

I don't think we need any more legislation. The emphasis is on safety. All fireworks have to meet British Standard 7114. Then there's the Consumer Protection Act 1967, the Firework (Safety) Regulations 1997, the General Product Safety Regulations 1994, the Placing on the Market and Supervision of Transfers of Explosives Regulations 1993, the Explosives Act 1875 as modified by the Explosives (Age of Purchase) Act 1976 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

As I said in a debate in the House recently, we don't have to be killjoys and ban all fireworks or restrict them out of existence. The Government should tighten up the 1997 Regulations, which already control the noisy, category 3 fireworks such as aerial shells and restrict the size of others. Do you agree?
Click here to read our debate and assess the arguments for yourself - and see what other people think. Then I can ask the Government to act.

ROBERT KEY MP