Treasury Minister's Sun Safety Advice Sparks Outrage

Strategic Insights -

Dawn Primarolo, the Paymaster General, has drawn criticism for advising parents to dress their children in full clothing to protect them from the sun, rather than relying on high-factor suncream. This advice contradicts the Department of Health's guidance, which recommends using high-factor suncream to ensure children are well covered. The controversy has sparked a debate over VAT on suncreams, with campaigners calling for 17.5% VAT to be abolished for products with a protection factor of 30 or 50.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dawn Primarolo, the Paymaster General, advised parents to dress their children in full clothing to protect them from the sun, citing the existing zero rate of VAT for children's clothing as the basis for her suggestion.
  • The advice contradicts the Department of Health's guidance, which recommends using high-factor suncream to ensure children are well covered.
  • Campaigners have called for 17.5% VAT to be abolished for suncreams with a protection factor of 30 or 50, with thousands of customers backing the campaign through letters and emails.
  • Several Labour MPs have expressed support for the calls, with some experts warning that excessive sun exposure in childhood can increase the chances of developing skin cancer in later life.
  • The SunSmart campaign emphasizes the importance of covering up with clothing to protect against the sun's harmful rays.
  • Ms Primarolo estimated that families could save £1.2 billion per year by taking advantage of the zero rate of VAT for children's clothing.

Statistics:

  • Estimated annual savings of £1.2 billion for families who take advantage of the zero rate of VAT for children's clothing.
  • 17.5% VAT rate on suncreams with a protection factor of 30 or 50, which is the target rate for abolition.
  • Thousands of customers have backed the campaign through letters and emails.
  • The Department of Health has issued a heatwave warning, emphasizing the importance of sun safety.

Sources:

  • A letter from Dawn Primarolo to a director of Superdrug, in which she advised parents to dress their children in full clothing to protect them from the sun.
  • A statement from Jeff Wemyss, director of beauty at Superdrug, in which he described the Treasury's response as "laughable".
  • The SunSmart campaign's guidelines, which emphasize the importance of covering up with clothing to protect against the sun's harmful rays.
  • A statement from the Department of Health, which advises parents to ensure their children are well covered in high-factor suncreams.
  • An article from [Superdrug's website] that reported on the controversy surrounding Ms Primarolo's advice.