Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. In the last 10 years, skin cancer diagnosis rates in Wales have risen by 63 per cent, with 140 people dying every year from the disease. In the same time, melanoma incidence rates in Wales have risen by 86 per cent for men and by almost half for women. These rates are unacceptably high for a cancer that can be protected against with one simple change: using sun cream. We need to be doing more to warn the people of Wales about the deadly risks of exposing their skin to UV rays without effective protection in the form of sun cream.

Skin Care Cymru is a volunteer-run charity that gives a voice to people with skin conditions in Wales. They campaign to raise awareness and educate on how people can protect themselves and spot the signs of skin cancer. Their message to Welsh people from this March is, ‘Don’t be a lobster on Welsh beaches, and use sun cream as we move into the spring and summer months.’

You may have already seen that, for St David’s Day, Welsh flags across the country have been transformed. Look out for our famous Welsh dragon being replaced by a bright red lobster. This figure—a well-known symbol for sunburn—will be flying in 35 locations across our country: from the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, to Pembroke Castle, and all the way to the summit of mount Snowdon. All of this is to encourage people to be aware of the risk the sun can pose and to encourage them to cover up with sun cream when they expose their skin to harmful rays. Even in Wales, where the sun doesn’t always shine, it’s important to guard against the dangers of UV and to stay protected.

Skin Care Cymru is asking us to fully support its ‘Don’t be a Lobster’ campaign, which launches today and will continue through the summer months. The more Welsh people who are educated about these risks, the more lives will be saved.