Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Overview
This Bill would seek to restrict the supply and use of certain kinds of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles. An example of a pyrotechnic article would be a distress flare.
The Bill impacts businesses and individuals. It creates a new licensing system which means that:
- members of the public will need a licence to buy, possess or use certain fireworks,
- businesses supplying fireworks will need to confirm that the people getting the fireworks either have a licence or don’t need one.
It will be a criminal offence to buy, possess or use fireworks without licence, or to supply fireworks to a person without a licence. It will also be an offence to give fireworks or pyrotechnic articles to a child, or buy them on behalf of a child.
The Bill specifies that certain fireworks can only be supplied to, and used by, members of the public at certain times, including:
- Vaisakhi
- Guy Fawkes Day
- Hogmanay
- Chinese New Year
- Diwali
There are exemptions for organised public firework displays and professionally organised displays.
In addition, the Bill grants local authorities the powers to set-up ‘firework control zones’. Councils will be able to restrict the use of fireworks in these zones, although professionally organised or public displays may still be allowed.
The possession of pyrotechnic articles when travelling to or at certain places and events will become an offence under the Bill. This could include certain sports events, sports grounds or music events.
The new rules created by the Bill will be enforced by trading standards or Police Scotland.
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill as introduced
The Bill was passed on 29 June 2022 and became an Act on 10 August 2022
Contents
Stage 1 - General principles
Committees examine the Bill and gather views. They produce reports before MSPs debate the Bill in the Chamber. MSPs then decide on the purpose (“general principles”) of the Bill.
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 03 May 2022
Committee Examination
The lead committee for this Bill is the Criminal Justice Committee
Submit your views
The call for views closed on 11 March 2022.
Written responses
The Participation and Communities Team have produced a summary of online forum submissions.
Fireworks Bill Engagement Summary (2MB, pdf) posted 25 March 2022
Further information on the Bill can be found in the SPICe Bill Briefing
Additional written responses
Police Scotland ‘The illicit use of pyrotechnics at events in Scotland’, Sept 2021 (710KB, pdf) posted 17 March 2022
General response on fireworks legislation in Ireland, Department of Justice, Government of Ireland, March 2022 (161KB, pdf) posted 24 March 2022
Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland Supplementary Written Evidence (51KB, pdf) posted 29 March 2022
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Fireworks and pyrotechnics offences Charges received during financial years 2016-2021 (135KB, pdf) posted 14 April 2022
British Fireworks Association Supplementary Written Evidence (681KB, pdf) posted 27 April 2022
Evaluation of Firework Related Harm in Scotland October 2020 (2MB, pdf) posted 27 April 2022
Timetable
The timetable that the committee followed while examining the Bill at Stage 1
Stage 1 Timetable
The Parliament agreed that consideration of the Bill at Stage 1 be completed by 6 May 2022.
Who spoke to the lead committee in the Parliament
MSPs met with people in committee meetings to discuss what the Bill will do.
Minutes of 9 February 2022 (private)
Minutes of 16 March 2022
Minutes of 21 March 2022
Minutes of 23 March 2022
Minutes of 30 March 2022
Minutes of 20 April 2022 (private)
Minutes of 27 April 2022 (private)
Meeting on 16 March 2022
Correspondence
Committee correspondence sent and received while the Bill progressed through Parliament
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022: Part 5 - Awareness Raising
Letter from the Minister for Victims and Community Safety to the Convener, 3 November 2023
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Letter from the Minister for Community Safety to the Convener, Criminal Justice Committee, 6 April 2022
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill Follow-up Questions
Letter from the Convener, Criminal Justice Committee to the Minister for Community Safety, 30 March 2022
Work by other committees
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Report published on 24 March 2022
Finance and Public Administration Committee
Committee report
The lead committee published its report on 28 April 2022 -
Stage 1 Report on the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
The Committee received the following responses to its report –
Letter from the Minister for Community Safety, 1 May 2022 (505KB, pdf) posted 03 May 2022
Debate
MSPs debate the purpose (“general principles”) of the Bill.
Meeting on 3 May 2022
Minutes of Proceedings (128KB, pdf) posted 03 May 2022
Vote
MSPs vote on the general principles of the Bill.
Meeting on 3 May 2022
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
- Submitted by: Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern, Scottish National Party.
- Date lodged: Thursday, 28 April 2022
- Motion reference: S6M-04236
- Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 03 May 2022