§ Mr. DhandaTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department will take to support the Sunsmart campaign organised by Cancer Research UK; [160998]
(2) what steps his Department will take to increase public awareness of high factor suncreams; 160999]
(3) if he will take steps to subsidise the cost of high factor suncream. [161000]
398W
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonDecisions on the future funding of the Cancer Research UK's SunSmart sun awareness campaign will be taken in due course.
We have no plans to subsidise the cost of high factor suncream. Research evidence supports our view and that of key stakeholders that shade and clothing (including eyewear) are safer and more reliable means of protecting people against the harmful effects of ultra violet (UV) rays. The Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign reinforces this message by saying that sunscreen is one element in the SunSmart campaign's advice on protection against the risk of skin cancer, and should be used if seeking shade (especially between 11.00 and 15.00) and covering skin with clothing is not possible. If sunscreen is used, it should be factor 15 or above and should be regularly applied. In practice, only minimal additional benefit is gained by using factors higher than 15. A Sun Protection Factor 15 sunscreen blocks more than 92 per cent, of the UVB rays.
Sun awareness information is available from the SunSmart campaign at www.sunsmart.org.uk and from the Department SunSafe web pages at www.doh.gov.uk/sunsafe, where specific advice is provided on the use of sunscreens.