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We have heard that there is a lack of evidence on the number of cases that are currently prosecuted. We have struggled to get that information, and the British Fireworks Association witness expressed similar frustrations in trying to ascertain how much lawbreaking and associated prosecution there already is. How can we establish that? If, as the suspicion might be, the law is, indeed, not being used to its fullest extent just now, why add to that if there is a risk that the new legislation would not be fully enforced either?

You mentioned them quite near the end of your remarks.

I presume that those were cases that Police Scotland reported to the Crown Office.

But we do not know what the—

Banning the sale of fireworks to those under the age of 21 seems pretty sensible, not least because the criminal justice system deems those aged under 25 not to be at the same level of maturity as those aged over 25.

To go back to the issue of pyrotechnics, I do not know whether the general public understand the difference between fireworks and pyrotechnics. Has the increased misuse of pyrotechnics by some football fans perhaps been used not as an excuse but as a reason for the sense that something must be done about fireworks? Is that culture of their use by some football fans, which did not really exist previously in the UK—it was more of a European thing—penalising the legitimate and responsible firework users and the industry?

Thank you.

In your opening statement, you quoted some words that the minister said, to the effect that a small number of people are causing the problem, which goes back to your central point—that the approach should be about enforcement and education rather than about more legislation. As industry representatives, do you feel that there is an open door and that you are being listened to by the Government, or is it a bit of an exercise in “consultation”, in inverted commas?

Using Northern Ireland as an example of how licensing could create a black market, or a bigger black market, do the witnesses have any insight from their colleagues or from trading standards in Northern Ireland about the size and extent of the black market that has been created?

Mr Hubble, do you feel that you are being listened to?

So, when you say “supply”, you mean sell or give.