E-petition 201947 relating to fireworks
A Westminster Hall debate on E-petition 201947 relating to fireworks is scheduled for Monday 29 January 2018 at 4.30pm. The Member leading the debate is Susan Elan Jones MP, a member of the Petitions Committee.
Petition 201947, Change the laws governing the use of fireworks to include a ban on public use, states:
Fireworks cause alarm, distress and anxiety to many people and animals. We call on the Secretary of State to make appropriate provision to secure that the risk of public use is the MINIMUM that is compatible with fireworks being used, as stated in Fireworks Act 2003 sect 2.
The full text of the petition, with the Government response, may be found here:
UK Government and Parliament petition 201947, Change the laws governing the use of fireworks to include a ban on public use, 6 October 2017 - 6 April 2018
The petition reached 111,037 signatures on 25 January 2018.
There is a page about the debate on the Petitions Committee website.
The sale and use of fireworks in England and Wales are governed primarily by the Fireworks Regulations 2004 made under the Fireworks Act 2003. The law is basically the same in Scotland, where the 2004 Regulations also apply alongside the Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004. The position is different in Northern Ireland, where a valid licence is needed to buy, possess and use fireworks (except indoor fireworks and sparklers).
More detail is given in a Commons Library Briefing:
Regulation of fireworks, Commons Library Briefing Paper CBP 5704, 27 November 2017