Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 29 June 2022
I thank members for participating in the debate. In my opening speech, I shared the stories of a few people in Scotland whose lives have been changed for ever because of horrific firework and pyrotechnic-related injuries. Sadly, that is merely the tip of the iceberg of the wide-ranging distress and harm that the people of Scotland experience due to fireworks and pyrotechnics.
I draw members’ attention to the fact that Eleanor Robertson, who is the senior clinical research fellow in burns and plastic surgery at Glasgow royal infirmary, joins us in the public gallery. She is joined by Amy McCabe, whose son was badly injured by a firework incident and is a campaigner on the issue. I thank them for joining us.
Throughout extensive consultation and engagement, we have heard from thousands of people about how their lives have been, and continue to be, impacted by fireworks being used in their communities. I have no doubt that many members in the chamber have heard similar views from their constituents. As their elected representatives, we all know that we need to be able to look our constituents in the eye and say that we are doing everything that we can to protect them from such harm.
It is important to highlight that, although issues around fireworks misuse featured strongly during consultation, it was clear that the sporadic and unpredictable use of fireworks was also problematic. One heart-breaking example that I was recently made aware of concerned the untimely passing of a much loved family dog due to fireworks. The story was shared with me last month, which is by no means firework season. Loud fireworks were suddenly set off one weekend. The dog was so frightened that he managed to escape and was last seen on train tracks. The community rallied together to find him and reunite him with his owners but, sadly, his body was found the following day.
As I have previously stated, the bill is not a panacea, but it is a crucial step in the culture change that I am committed to progressing alongside wider actions—such as education and awareness raising—to keep people, animals and communities safe from the harm that can be caused by fireworks and the misuse of pyrotechnics.