The First Minister will be aware of the serious fireworks-related disorder in Niddrie a few days ago. Constituents have written to me and told me about how terrified they were during that time. Will the First Minister join me in condemning the violence, particularly the attacks on our emergency services? I stress that incidents such as those should not be used to talk down the communities that I represent.

Does the First Minister agree that a ban on fireworks is possible only with the full powers of independence? Does he agree that the Government should implement the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022 as a matter of urgency? Will he consider additional resources for hotspot areas, such as my Constituency of Edinburgh Eastern?

The First Minister:

First and foremost, we condemn in the strongest possible manner the violence and the reckless actions that we saw in not just the member’s Constituency but other parts of the country. I also pay tribute to our emergency workers, in particular our fire officers and police officers who were on the front line, and I say just how despicable it is that they were under attack in that way.

In relation to a wholesale ban, it is my understanding that that is not within our competency, but we will seek to do more. Whatever we can do with legislation, we will seek to do. That is why we have brought forward legislation and regulations over the years, most recently with regard to the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

We will continue to work with our local authorities to see what more we can do in relation to additional resource—that is a fair request.

Finally, it should not require Government legislation or regulation for someone to know that they should not fire fireworks at police officers or fire officers. My hope is that those who are responsible and found to be guilty of such behaviour—the police investigation is on-going—will feel the full force of the law.

The Presiding Officer:

That concludes First Minister’s questions.