MP FIGHTS TO BAN SUNBEDS FOR UNDER 18s (Southampton Liberal Democrats)

Southampton Liberal Democrats <info@southampton-libdems.org.uk>

MP FIGHTS TO BAN SUNBEDS FOR UNDER 18s

January 19, 2010 2:00 PM
Originally published by Sandra Gidley

Sandra Gidley MP Hampshire MP and Shadow Health Minister for the Liberal Democrats, Sandra Gidley, is urging all MPs to back a new Bill in Parliament to protect children from the dangers of sunbeds.

More than a quarter of a million children aged 11-17 in the UK have used sunbeds (recently upgraded to a top class carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer), thereby putting themselves at risk of skin cancer later in life.

Commenting today from Westminster, Sandra said:

"It is shocking to hear how dangerous sunbeds can be to children's health - and how many under 18s seem to be using them. We must act now to prevent young people having access to sunbeds.

"In the UK the number of people diagnosed with skin cancer is rising faster than any other cancer. That's why I believe that getting a law passed in Parliament to protect young people and teenagers from the dangers of sunbeds is crucial to help buck this worrying trend.

"It's already illegal for under 18s in Scotland to use sunbeds, but not in England and Wales. I will do all I can to ensure that teenagers south of the border are afforded the same protection as those in Scotland."

ENDS