Skin Cancer UK: does he who pays the piper call the tune?

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In amongst other news, the BBC and others have reported extensively on a report from a charity - Skin Cancer UK - calling on schools to slap loads of suncream on kids the minute a watery gleam of sunshine breaks through in our English summer:

All UK schools should be required to have a comprehensive sun safety policy to protect children from skin cancer, a charity campaigner says.

A recent survey of 1,000 parents, commissioned by MPs on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Skin, found almost 40% of pupils have suffered sunburn while at school.

Richard Clifford of Skin Cancer UK says this is "entirely unacceptable" and wants mandatory sun rules for schools.

Now this may be a good idea (I am unconvinced) but why did nobody think to checkout who funds Skin Cancer UK? The funders include:

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global BioPharma company firmly focused on its mission to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases.

This firm also manufacture suncreams.  And there's Croda:

Recognised as the world leader in the provision of specialist ingredients used by most of the major suncream manufacturers to produce their sun care products.

And The Deb Group:

The Deb Group aspires to be the world's leading away from home skin care system company — the supplier of choice for companies and organisations that value employee and customer well-being. For over 65 years, they have been establishing skin care regimes for all types of workplace and public environments.

Plus Schuco:

Experts in and specialist suppliers of skin technology and equipment to the medical industry.

The list concludes with San Tropez, Sunsense and Suntogs - all manufacturers of suncare products.

I don't know about you folks but the findings of the 'research' and the reports recommendations do seem to be in the interests of these businesses.

It just might be the case of "he who pays the piper calls the tune"?

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