THERE is a great debate about the creeping nanny state. Just this week we’ve had calls for smoking to be banned in cars carrying children, and there has been a major attempt to get adults in the North-East to face up to the amount they drink so that they cut down.

It could be argued that adults are adults and are old enough to be able to make up their own minds.

However, they can only do that if they are in full possession of the facts, which is where this week’s Balance campaign, reminding us about the dangers of excessive drinking, is so valuable.

Children, though, are children.

They are not old enough to make responsible decisions, even when they are in possession of the facts, and they do need the nanny state to help protect them from themselves.

There is no better example of this than tanning lamps and sunbeds.

Even fairly old teenagers, desperate to look cool, don’t seem appreciate the risks to their young skin by just a few minutes under a lamp.

Following several distressing cases, in October we launched our Sunbed Safety campaign, calling for under 18- year-olds to be banned from solariums.

Yesterday, a high-powered Government committee – the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation – added its voice to the calls.

In fact, nearly every month we report on another new voice joining the campaign, from the Health and Safety Executive to the sunbed industry itself.

By now, the Government really should have heard enough. It should have got the message. We don’t need any more reports. We just need some action.