Health Question - 14th Nov, 2007

Sian James MP has welcomed the response of the Minister for Public Health to her Commons Question on teenage cancer

Sian James MP said:

"I asked the Minister to explain what recent discussions she has had with charities concerned with teenage cancer on skin cancer prevention at Health Questions.

"The Minister said that SunSmart, the national skin cancer prevention and sun protection campaign, is run by the charity Cancer Research UK on behalf of the UK Health Departments. The Department’s officials are in regular contact with the charity, which has a dedicated SunSmart website and produces resources and information that include advice relevant to teenagers.

"I appreciated the Minister’s answer. I wanted to use the opportunity to inform her that I recently met representatives of the Teenage Cancer Trust, who have been supportive of my campaign to restrict or stop the use of sunbeds by underage children.

"I asked the Minister to meet other child cancer charities to raise awareness of skin cancer in young people and to highlight the dangers of overexposure to the sun and of sunbed use.

"The Minister thanked me for my tenacity in pursuing that important campaign. I will shortly be meeting with her to discuss this matter further."