§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how he intends to increase the profile of(a) the issue of skin cancer and (b) methods of effective sun protection through the SunSmart scheme; [155280]
(2) how much funding will be provided for the SunSmart campaign for summer 2004; [155281]
(3) what account the SunSmart campaign will take of tanning shops. [155282]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonA new sun awareness initiative, the SunSmart campaign, was launched in March 2003, funded by United Kingdom Health Departments and run by Cancer Research UK.
The campaign is based on the successful SunSmart campaign in Australia. The campaign has received interim funding of £50,000 this year from the UK Health Departments. Decisions on further funding for SunSmart will be made in due course.
The campaign's aim is to increase the profile of the issue of skin cancer and methods of effective sun protection. The key objectives are to increase knowledge of the causes of skin cancer, to increase awareness of actions that can be taken to prevent skin cancer and to influence positively attitudes to sun protection.
Wide dissemination of SunSmart messages will be achieved through the media and by supper ting education and health professionals locally. The campaign is working with the Department for 886W Education and Skills and teachers to develop guidelines to encourage schools to adopt their own SunSmart policies and curricular activities.
Tanning shops and the potential dangers involved in the use of sunbeds will be the subject of a meeting of experts and industry hosted by SunSmart on 29 March. The campaign will review the latest scientific evidence and to develop practical recommendations for better self-regulation.
SunSmart achieved mass media coverage for skin cancer issues in 2003, reaching 76 per cent. of UK adults, and will use similar techniques this spring/summer to keep skin cancer high profile with the public.
In addition to the SunSmart campaign, we continue to fund the Meteorological Office to provide the Ultra-Violet index in the media (television, radio, Meteorological Office website).
The Department also provides core funding to the National Radiological Protection Board, which has expertise on ultra-violet radiation issues relevant to the public health aspects of the prevention of skin cancer.