PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE AND VAT ON SUNCARE PRODUCTS

Early day motion 1277, tabled 17 April 2007 by Bob Spink (Conservative). Signed by 42 members.

That this House recognises the need for greater focus on preventative health care and that skin cancer cases in the UK have more than doubled in the last 20 years with 60,000 people diagnosed and 1,700 deaths each year from melanoma; further notes that children are particularly at risk with around 80 per cent. of exposure to the sun before the age of 21 years and sunburn in childhood being a major factor in an adult's chances of getting skin cancer; therefore calls on the Government to take the financially prudent and caring approach of reclassifying suncare products as essential health care items for VAT purposes; and congratulates the Institute of Cancer Research and other bodies which have promoted skin awareness campaigns to remove VAT from suncare products.

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Liberal Democrat 10, Conservative 6, DUP 5, Social Democratic and Labour Party 3, Independent 1.