Commons Sense

House of Commons · General Debate

Sun Protection Products (Value Added Tax)

21 February 2023 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Amy Callaghan Lab East Dunbartonshire

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Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Amy Callaghan raised concerns about sun protection products (value added tax) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.

Key points

  • Ms Callaghan moved a Bill to exempt sun protection products from VAT, citing public health concerns.
  • She highlighted that market research indicates constituents are being priced out of buying essential sun protection due to high costs.
  • According to Cancer Research UK, getting sunburnt twice a year can triple melanoma risk, with 16,000 people diagnosed yearly and over 2,300 deaths in the UK.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Amy Callaghan Lab East Dunbartonshire

Ms Callaghan moved a Bill to exempt sun protection products from VAT. She declared her personal interest and highlighted that sunscreen affordability is critical for public health, citing market research indicating that constituents are being priced out of buying essential sun protection due to high costs. She pointed out that less than half a percent of the Treasury's revenue from value added tax comes from sunscreen products (about £40 million). Ms Callaghan urged the Government not to ignore the serious risk of skin cancer and to consider the voices of survivors, especially Members trying to create positive change regarding how the population views skin cancer. She emphasised that unprotected sun exposure causes skin cancer and that preventing it should be uncontroversial. According to Cancer Research UK, getting sunburnt twice a year can triple melanoma risk; 16,000 people are diagnosed with it yearly in the UK and over 2,300 die from it, making it essential to address prevention.

Other contributors (1)
  • Amy Callaghan Lab East Dunbartonshire

    Ms Callaghan stated that skin cancer is too often overlooked in political discourse despite its preventability with adequate sun protection. She compared the VAT exemption for smoking cessation products, noting similar functions to sunscreen in preventing cancer but a lack of measures for melanoma prevention. The Bill seeks a VAT exemption for factor 30+ sunscreen products with four-star UVA protection ratings, which accounts for only 0.03% of VAT revenue. Ms Callaghan argued that the human cost outweighs this minimal financial impact and proposed a skin protection awareness campaign similar to Australia’s “Slip, Slop, Slap”. She highlighted occupational risks and the importance of making sun protection more accessible and affordable in both retail and workplace settings.

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