What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the news that the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill has finished its Stage 3 reading in the Scottish Parliament, and does it have any plans to introduce equivalent universal measures to tackle period poverty in Wales?
My officials are in regular contact with the Scottish Government and will continue to monitor the progression and implementation of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill as it becomes law.
The Welsh Government has already taken a range of action to address period dignity and tackle period poverty in Wales. We provide funding to local authorities to provide free period products within all primary and secondary schools and to communities across Wales. Funding is also provided to all Further Education colleges for the same purpose. Period products are also available free of charge for all hospital inpatients.
I chair a productive Roundtable with external stakeholders. The aim of the group is to provide expert advice to the Welsh Government on the development of policy and strategy.
A Strategic Action Plan has been developed and was shared with the Period Dignity Roundtable on 10 September. The aim is to publish the final plan in early 2021.
The plan will be a cross Welsh Government plan including commitments to reduce single use plastic; embed period dignity in schools, further and higher education with provision of products and learning resources; enable provision of products in health settings; and an ambition to progress provision of period products by employers, businesses and facilities as the norm.