Melanoma Awareness Month and VAT on sunscreen

That this House recognises that May is Melanoma awareness month; understands that melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and that that most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays; is aware that protecting your skin from UV rays is key to lowering the risk of skin cancer; believes that Melanoma awareness month is an opportune time to once again call for sunscreen to be reclassified as an essential healthcare item and therefore be exempted from VAT, given the important role it plays in preventing serious health conditions such as skin cancer; understands that sunscreen is classified as a cosmetic product in the UK and is therefore subject to 20 per cent VAT, which adds around £1.50 to the cost of each bottle; recognises that Cancer Research UK has concluded that being sunburnt once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma skin cancer, and that melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have more than doubled in the UK since the early 1990s; and calls on the Government to therefore take action to remove VAT on this essential product to make it more affordable and to encourage people to protect themselves from the harmful effects of the sun.