This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Shopkeepers urged to play safe on fireworks
31/10/2003
Ministers today appealed to traders to act responsibly
when selling fireworks in the run-up to Bonfire Night.
It is illegal to sell most fireworks to under 18s and
there is also a voluntary code among retailers to sell
fireworks only for three weeks before November 5, while
the forthcoming Fireworks Act will put new legislation in
place.
At a local conference on fireworks in Kilmarnock, Public
Services Minister Andy Kerr will say:
"The Executive is committed to stamping out the injuries
and upset which can be caused by the irresponsible use of
fireworks. To do this, and to help enforce the new laws
under the Fireworks Act, we need traders to be vigilant,
responsible and sensible when selling fireworks.
"Fireworks can provide an excellent form of family
entertainment and can enhance special occasions for people
across our communities. No one would seek to deny the
opportunity to enjoy them in a safe way.
"However, the last few years has witnessed a change in
behaviour which is totally unacceptable. Fireworks are
being set off many weeks before November 5, causing
distress and alarm to many communities.
The licensing of suppliers of fireworks is just one of
the measures to be introduced under the Fireworks Act which
will clamp down on the irresponsible sale of fireworks.
"However, responsible retailers have nothing to fear
from the introduction of licensing - it is the rogue
traders who have total disregard for when they sell
fireworks or who they sell to that should be rightly
worried.
"As I have said before, they are drinking in the last
chance saloon. Licensing will ensure that only responsible
retailers will be able to sell fireworks."
The day after publishing the Executive's Anti-Social
Behaviour Bill, Communities Minister Margaret Curran
added:
"The irresponsible use of fireworks can seriously affect
the quality of people's lives and, instead of bringing
excitement, they can bring about fear and apprehension in
communities.
"Young people fooling around with fireworks - whether
they intend to cause harm or not - are part of the problem.
But we need to address the supply of fireworks and that
means tackling the irresponsible retailers who are abusing
the code of practice and selling fireworks to underage
people.
"This summer, communities across Scotland made clear to
Ministers that anti-social behaviour in its many forms
makes lives misery, blights neighbourhoods and undermines
our work to renew and regenerate communities.
"That is why communities across Scotland have widely
welcomed the Executive's strategy for tackling anti-social
behaviour and I believe that this, along with the measures
in the Fireworks act, will make a real difference in our
communities to stop the irresponsible use of
fireworks."
The Fireworks Act received Royal Assent on September 18.
There was a Sewel motion passed in the Scottish Parliament
on June 26.
It will enable regulations to be made in the following
areas:
- prohibition of supply to or possession by young
people
- prohibition of supply, possession or use during
certain hours, in certain places or in certain
circumstances
- prohibition of supply of certain fireworks
- public fireworks displays
- licensing of suppliers
- information about fireworks
- prohibition of importation etc of fireworks
- training courses
The regulations will come into effect in time for
Bonfire Night 2004.