Fireworks and Animal Welfare

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 2:40 pm on 17 November 2021.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 2:40, 17 November 2021

Well, as I say, this is a matter that sits with the UK Government, and we would certainly like to have those powers devolved, so that we are able to make some really significant steps. I'm very conscious, obviously, of the impact fireworks can have on our animals, so I was very pleased to see—I can think of one supermarket in particular that did not sell fireworks this year, which I do think improved matters. I think you're quite right in what the RSPCA were saying, that there were probably more people who celebrated bonfire night at home, and bought fireworks for private use rather than going to big events, due to the COVID pandemic.

Obviously, animal welfare sits in my portfolio, but, previously, when I was the environment Minister, I had many discussions with Ministers from not just the UK Government but Scotland as well, to see what we could do to look at either banning fireworks, or looking at having silent fireworks, or no-noise fireworks. Because of course, it's a balance, isn't it, between people's enjoyment of these things and the distress it unfortunately does cause. I know that the Deputy Minister for Climate Change is looking to see what can further be done, and I think he's asked for some advice around the limitations of the current UK regulations.