You are employed as a secretary by a firm which makes toys and a range of fireworks (firecrackers, rockets, sparklers, etc.). The firm is thinking of closing down its fireworks factory. For the benefit of one of the firm's executives, summarise, in not more than 160 words, the following correspondence which has been published in a national newspaper during the last few days. You need to write a short covering memo to the executive, explaining to him (or her) where you saw the correspondence and why you think it is significant.

Sir My daughter Mary took part in a local fete at our village last week, and at the end of the day she joined in the firework celebrations. There were a number of children and young people roaming around, letting off fireworks. One of these hit Mary in the face. As a result, she is now blind in one eye and has a permanent burn scar on the left side of her face.

Isn't it time the government banned fireworks? How can manufacturers be so wicked as to sell these dangerous things?

Yours faithfully

(Mrs) Elizabeth Onslow Sir On behalf of my Association, may I reply to the letter from Mrs Onslow which you recently published?

I naturally sympathise deeply with the very great distress which her daughter's accident has caused. However, I am sure your correspondent would not wish to ban kitchen knives, or even building bricks. Yet these, if thrown indiscriminately by reckless persons, can be just as lethal as any firework.

Your readers will know that the sale of fireworks is strictly controlled, so that only responsible persons of a certain age can buy them. The solution to tragedies such as Mary Onslow's is better education and more stringent control. Fireworks bring enormous pleasure to many people, and it seems a pity to allow a very tiny irresponsible minority to deny this pleasure to the public.
Yours faithfully Maurice Morgan Secretary, Association of Chemical Processqrs Sir How hypocritical can one be?
Maurice Morgan is paid, I repeat paid, by his Association to utter platitudes defending his members. Fireworks are lethal - he admits it himself! I hope the government will take immediate action to put an end to this trade in death and disfigurement.
Yours disgustedly Paul Simon Sir As a plastic surgeon at one of London's biggest hospitals, I should like to comment on the correspondence which has recently appeared in your columns.
Every year, I treat a large number of cases of firework burns. The majority of patients are children, often quite young children. The pain and suffering which these patients have to endure is very considerable, and although it is often possible to repair much of the damage by means of plastic surgery there is an inevitable legacy of disfigurement and impaired function. And, of course, plastic surgery is of no avail in the many cases where there has been an eye injury.
My colleagues and I have pressed for many years for very strict controls on the sale of fireworks and your recent correspondents have convinced me that only a complete end to the manufacture of these dangerous toys will be effective.
For professional reasons I prefer not to sign my name, and remain Yours faithfully London Surgeon Sir 'London Surgeon' makes a very good case, but like your other correspondents he is in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Fireworks do indeed give much pleasure. Why then should we allow an irresponsible group of people to deprive us of that pleasure?
Mr Morgan writes that the sale of fireworks is strictly controlled, but your readers will all know that children can get hold of fireworks -

perhaps through contact with older children. The answer would be to prohibit the sale of all fireworks to the public, but to licence local authorities and other responsible bodies to hold firework displays under carefully controlled conditions.
We have done this locally for several years, and public support has been most encouraging.
Yours etc.
Jennie Staples Youth and Recreation Officer,London Borough of Bridgenorth Dear Mr Editor My Mum won't let me have any fireworks for my birthday party because she had been reading your newspaper and I don't think it's fair.
Lisa Smith (aged 9)
NOTE: This correspondence if now closed- Editor