Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Sun Protection Products: Affordability

Tuesday 6 June 2023 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial colleagues are not assessing the impact of increasing the affordability of sun protection products on skin cancer levels.
  • Tax matters related to sun protection products are handled by the Treasury.
  • Government support for the cost of living includes covering nearly half of a typical household's energy bill since October.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Thomson
NHS Environment
Context

Cases of skin cancer have doubled since the early 1990s, with nearly 16,000 new cases diagnosed each year leading to 2,300 avoidable deaths annually.

Question

If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of increasing the affordability of sun protection products on levels of skin cancer. Since the early 1990s cases of skin cancer have doubled, with nearly 16,000 new cases diagnosed each year leading to 2,300 avoidable deaths annually. If some products were more affordable, more constituents might use them and bring those numbers down.

Answer from Neil O'Brien

As the hon. Gentleman knows, tax matters are for the Treasury, but we are absolutely committed to providing cost of living support. By the end of June the Government will have covered nearly half a typical household's energy bill since October, so we are providing one of the most generous packages in Europe.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request regarding tax representations was not addressed

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Q2 Richard Thomson
NHS Taxation
Context

Cases of skin cancer have doubled since the early 1990s, with nearly 16,000 new cases diagnosed each year leading to 2,300 avoidable deaths annually.

Question

Since the early 1990s cases of skin cancer have doubled, with nearly 16,000 new cases diagnosed each year leading to 2,300 avoidable deaths annually. If some products were more affordable, more constituents might use them and bring those numbers down. Will the ministerial team make representations to their Treasury colleagues about the Sun Protection Products (Value Added Tax) Bill, a private Member's Bill promoted by my hon. Friend the Member for East Dunbartonshire (Amy Callaghan) which would remove VAT from some sun protection products?

Answer from Neil O'Brien

As the hon. Gentleman knows, tax matters are for the Treasury, but we are absolutely committed to providing cost of living support. By the end of June the Government will have covered nearly half a typical household's energy bill since October, so we are providing one of the most generous packages in Europe.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request regarding tax representations was not addressed

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Q3 Martyn Day SNP
NHS Taxation
Context

The last time I asked Ministers whether they would support the Bill, I was told that the issue of VAT and skin cancer was a matter for the Treasury.

Question

What are Ministers doing—instead of imposing more pressure and costs on the NHS—to persuade their Treasury colleagues to consider more cost-effective cost preventive measures such as making skin protection products more affordable?

Answer from Neil O'Brien

The hon. Gentleman is campaigning for a reduction in the VAT on suncream, but let me put this into perspective. As I have said, our cost of living support is worth, on average, £3,300 per household. That is help on a huge scale. On cancer we are taking more action across the piece, and more people are being given life-saving checks, referrals and treatment than before.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request regarding persuasion of Treasury was not addressed

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