To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it is having with the United Kingdom Government regarding the possibility of implementing a ban on personal use of fireworks. (S2O-11869)

I call George Lyon to respond. Mr Lyon?

The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including fireworks. We continue to monitor the effectiveness of regulations that have been made under the Fireworks Act 2003 but we do not believe that a case has been made for further controls at present.

I thank the minister for his somewhat belated response.

The minister's answer gives me cause for concern. A number of my constituents have written to him in the last month, but letters that were addressed to him have been passed to the Department of Trade and Industry by his officials. Is he aware of the curt response that my constituents have received from the DTI correspondence official? Will he undertake to investigate the matter and to provide an appropriate response to my constituents on what is a very important issue?

I am aware that close to 100 representations on the problems of fireworks have been made by the member's constituents and have been passed to the DTI. I will undertake to examine the response that her constituents received. I reassure her that the Executive is always willing to examine the issue in the light of such representations to see whether a case could be made for further representations to the UK Government for a further change in the law.

Is the minister aware that I, too, am disappointed by his response to Margaret Jamieson's questions? When I raised a similar question with him on 30 November 2006, he undertook to monitor complaints to the police and to local authorities. According to the Official Report , he also undertook to discuss the representations that I have had on the issue. Kicking it for a shy to the DTI hardly fits the bill.

As I said in my previous answer, we have examined the letters that have been sent to us. We are aware of the representations that Charlie Gordon and other members have made. As I said in my answer to Margaret Jamieson, we are always willing, in the light of representations, to consider whether a case can be made for going further on the matter.