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20 Feb 2008 : Column 817W—continued
Sunbeds
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what options are being considered for regulation of the sunbed industry, as mentioned in the cancer reform strategy; [185407]
(2) with reference to the cancer reform strategy, in what manner the SunSmart campaign will expand; when the expansion will become effective; and what activities it will cover; [185437]
(3) what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the provision of health-related information in (a) supervised and (b) unsupervised sunbed salons; [185439]
(4) what recent discussions his Department's (a) public health and (b) cancer teams have had on the regulation of (i) (A) supervised and (B) unsupervised sunbed salons and (ii) the usage of sunbeds by those under the age of 18; [185440]
(5) what recent discussions he has had with (a) the sunbed industry and (b) stakeholders in the health community on the health effects of sunbed usage; [185441]
(6) what estimate he has made of the level of usage of (a) supervised and ( b) unsupervised sunbed salons by under 18 year olds in the latest period for which figures are available; [185443]
(7) what recent discussions he has had with (a) the World Health Organisation, (b) his counterparts in the European Union and (c) the Scottish Executive on the use of sunbeds by those under the age of 18; [185442]
(8) what steps his Department is taking to determine the number and distribution of (a) supervised and (b) unsupervised sunbed salons; and over what timescale; [185444]
(9) if he will bring forward regulations to require minimum standards of (a) clarity and (b) uniformity in respect of information provided in (i) sunbed salons and (ii) unsupervised sunbed salons. [186335]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department is reviewing what options can be considered for the regulation of tanning salons with the help of stakeholders, both inside and outside of Government.
For example, we have met with representatives from the tanning industry and voluntary organisations with an interest in young people, and engaged with other Government Departments, the Scottish Executive and international organisations on the issue of sunbeds, both supervised and unsupervised.
The aim is to strike a balance between consumer safety and choice and to focus initially on the potential harm to young people under 18 years using sunbeds. As part of the review we are working with stakeholders to develop proposals to ascertain the extent of usage of sunbeds by minors and the distribution of sunbed outlets.
In the meantime, the Health and Safety Executive is shortly expected to publish for consultation on its website a revised version of leaflet INDG209 ‘Controlling health risks from the use of Ultraviolet tanning equipment’. This will include draft guidance for operators and information for customers.
SunSmart is the national prevention and sun protection campaign, run by Cancer Research UK on behalf of the United Kingdom Health Departments. The Cancer Reform Strategy is a five-year strategy and the details of implementing the many actions outlined in the strategy (including those relating to skin awareness) are currently being worked through.
Tinnitus
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide funding for tinnitus research over the next three years. [186384]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department funds national health service research and development through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The institute's research programmes support high quality research of relevance and in areas of high priority to patients and the NHS.
The usual practice of the NIHR (and of the Medical Research Council) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Both organisations welcome applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
Details, including the scope of the programmes and the arrangements for making applications for support from them, are available on the NIHR website at:
Wines
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the policy of the Food Standards Agency is on the importation and sale of low alcohol wine. [185800]
Dawn Primarolo: The enforcement for wine sector regulations in the United Kingdom is carried out by the Food Standards Agency.
Wines from other member states may be brought into the UK provided they comply with European Community (EC) regulations on winemaking. Naturally lower alcohol wines can be produced and sold in member states. However, Council Regulation 1493/1999 does not allow the reduction of alcohol in a wine. There is, however, provision for member states to allow experimental winemaking practices but any wines produced can only be sold in the member state of production.
Wines from third countries imported into the EC are in general subject to the same rules on winemaking as wines produced in member states. The United States of America is one of a number of countries that has an
agreement with the EC which allows wines from the USA which meet their domestic regulations to be imported into the EC. This agreement includes the use of alcohol reduction techniques.
The agency favours a regime that recognises there is no threat to consumer health by using alcohol reduction processes. However a new category for reduced alcohol wines is required to be included in to EC regulations, to avoid misleading description and potential confusion with mainstream wines.
The European Union wine regime is currently being reviewed and it is expected to introduce a fast track procedure for approval of novel winemaking processes such as spinning cone and reverse osmosis which can reduce the alcohol content of wine.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason British wine producers are restricted by EU rules in selling lower alcohol wines in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [186856]
Dawn Primarolo: Naturally lower alcohol wines can be produced and sold in the United Kingdom. Council Regulation 1493/1999 does not allow the reduction of alcohol in a wine. There is, however, provision in the regulations to allow experimental winemaking practices but any wines produced can only be sold in the member state of production.
The enforcement for wine sector regulations in the UK is carried out by the Food Standards Agency. The agency favours a more liberal regime, recognising the potential benefits to consumers of using alcohol reduction processes. However this would require an amendment to European Commission regulations which currently make this practice illegal, on the grounds that this would mislead consumers and there would be potential for confusion with mainstream wines.
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