CANCER RESARCH UK'S SUNSMART CAMPAIGN

Early day motion 942, tabled 30 March 2004 by Bruce George (Labour). Signed by 131 members.

That this House congratulates Cancer Research UK's SunSmart Campaign for its achievements over the past year in raising awareness of skin cancer and encouraging people to protect themselves in the sun and welcomes the launch of the campaign in 2004; notes that 69,000 new cases of skin cancer are reported each year in the UK and that since 1971 the incidence of malignant melanoma has increased more than all other major cancers, with cases tripling in men and doubling in women; further notes that skin cancer is a largely preventable disease and that long-term nationwide public health education campaigns are vital to initiate the attitudinal and behavioural changes needed to reverse the trend in skin cancer incidence in the UK; and calls upon the Government to provide adequate long-term funding of such campaigns to educate people on the risks of exposure to the sun as recommended in the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin's report on the management, treatment and prevention of skin cancer.

Signatures by party: Conservative 55, Labour 47, Liberal Democrat 16, Labour/Co-operative 5, DUP 3, UUP 2, Independent Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.