Question reference: S6W-25729
- Asked by: Rona Mackay, MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 22 February 2024
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Siobhian Brown on 23 February 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.
Answer
To date, four out of six key measures provided for within the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 have been implemented, these are:
- A prohibition on providing or making available fireworks or pyrotechnic articles to children;
- A new statutory aggravation for courts sentencing offenders where fireworks were used to attack emergency workers;
- New discretionary powers for local authorities to designate firework control zones; and
- New offences of possession of pyrotechnics in public places and at designated venues and events.
After careful consideration and assessment of the significant financial pressures the Scottish Government is facing following the UK Government’s budget settlement, the Government has decided to extend the timeframe for delivery and implementation of the firework licensing requirement (Part 2 of the Act) to 2026. A pause to the implementation of restrictions to the days of supply and use of fireworks (within Part 3 of the Act), was outlined to the Criminal Justice Committee in March 2023. I am writing to the Convener of the Criminal Justice Committee to provide further details about this decision.