Extreme Heat Preparedness Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Extreme Heat Preparedness

Chris Bryant Excerpts
Monday 18th July 2022

(2 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kit Malthouse Portrait Kit Malthouse
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I hope that the hon. Lady is not attempting to create confusion. We have been very clear about the simple message that everyone should take sensible measures to guard their own health. They should stay in the shade, drink lots of water, wear a hat and not exercise unduly, but we are focused on the groups we know are particularly vulnerable, following what happened in France back in 2003. We think there needs to be a very sharp focus on them, and our message is clear. There are steps we can take individually and collectively to protect ourselves, and that is what we are promoting.

Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)
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Exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer, and skin cancer, especially melanoma, can kill. The incidence of it in the UK has grown significantly in the last 15 to 20 years. Can the Minister make sure of two things? First, can we get rid of VAT on good-quality sunscreen so that it is cheaper and available to more people? Secondly, can we make sure that anybody who works in our emergency services, including all the police and the police officers working here outside the building, have free sunscreen?

Kit Malthouse Portrait Kit Malthouse
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At last, a constructive question. The hon. Gentleman raises two important points, and I will certainly take them away and reassure myself that they are both being addressed.