Banging on
4th November 2003
I love Guy Fawkes night. It brings back childhood memories of cold nights, hot chocolate and Catherine Wheels. But I hate the misuse of fireworks. That is why I am so glad that a Private Members Bill which restricts the sale and use of fireworks will finally become law on November 5th 2003.
The 2003 Fireworks Act owes its life to a backbench MP called Bill Tynan. I believe that many of us will have cause to bless his name in years to come because it allows the government to impose a curfew on the use of fireworks; make it an offence for them to be sold or supplied to people under eighteen and bans air bombs.
The Act also sets a maximum noise limit for fireworks; licenses suppliers and brings in new rules for public displays.
All very good news but, you may say, what can I do about the little horrors setting off fireworks near the shops? Well, there are a whole slew of Acts which can be invoked. The most relevant is the 1875 Explosives Act which prohibits the throwing or setting off of fireworks on a street or in a public place. Anyone caught doing this is liable for a fine of £5,000.
The noise made by fireworks can also be deemed a nuisance under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act. This Act also gives local authorities the power to prevent this kind of nuisance. So, if you are having problems with things that go bang in the night get in touch with your local councillor.
Burning question
Education Secretary Charles Clarke delivered his long awaited statement on education funding straight after Prime Minister’s Questions last week. I was relieved to hear him acknowledge that the last few months of uncertainty have been difficult for schools, governors and parents. He could have included MPs in that. Educationally, Stevenage is making real progress. I would hate to see things going backwards because of lack of funding.
So I was really pleased to hear that Hertfordshire had received a transitional grant of £7.5million. The third highest in the country. Only Kent and Essex got more. This transitional grant is specifically for schools having difficulty balancing their budgets.
All schools will also receive a guaranteed minimum increase in their per-pupil budget and all Local Education Authorities will receive additional resources to help schools with additional pressures.
However, I am not heaving a sigh of relief just yet. The devil is always in the detail. My husband, who is Chair of Governor’s at a local school, will soon let me know how this translates on the ground. Let us hope that the news is good.
Fizzled
Westminster’s Conservatives have lost their Halloween gloom with the ousting of Iain Duncan Smith. Now they radiate a positively Christmassy spirit of love, peace and joy at the prospect of having Michael Howard as their leader. I doubt that it will last into December. But I am glad that Iain Duncan Smith has finally been let off the hook. Politics can be a terribly cruel trade.
Barbara Follett MP
