An unstaffed tanning salon on Cowbridge Road East

Unstaffed tanning salons could soon be outlawed after a proposal by Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan today moved a step closer to becoming law.

The Sunbeds (Regulation) Bill would also make it illegal for people under the age of 18 to use sunbeds, with a fine of up to £20,000 for any salons caught breaking the law.

The bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons today and will now go on to the House of Lords. Mrs Morgan said she was hopeful it would become law before the General Election.

Speaking just after MPs voted on the proposal, Mrs Morgan said: “It got through by the skin of its teeth and now we’ve got a good chance of getting it through in to law. I think the worst problem was in the Commons. There were three votes and we got it through despite attempts to block it.

“I’m relatively optimistic, especially since the bill has all-party support. I would say we’ve got a good chance.”

Christopher Chope, Conservative member for Christchurch, suggested a number of amendments to the bill but they were rejected by MPs. He said: “Are we really saying that by banning 16 and 17 year olds from sun tanning salons that they will forgo that sun tan? Of course they won’t. They will find somewhere else they can get access to that sun tan.”

He also expressed concern about holding the owners and staff of tanning salons liable for people under the age of 18 using the facilities in cases where the users lied about their age, and said the maximum fine should be reduced to £5,000.

He added: “There will be no responsibility for parents or users even if they had acted with deception or malice or criminal intent.”

But Julie Morgan said the £20,000 fine was a ceiling and would be used sparingly.

The bill has the support of The Sunbed Association, which wants to see unstaffed salons closed down.

Chief Executive Kathy Banks said: “We have been supporting the bill in terms of the minimum age restrictions of 18 and the measures in unstaffed tanning salons.

“We don’t have unstaffed tanning salons in our membership and we never have. They basically provide an outlet where people can use sunbeds unsupervised and potentially be used by children.”