We now move to the short debate. I call on Heledd Fychan to speak to the topic that she has chosen—Heledd Fychan.

Thank you very much, Dirprwy Lywydd, and I’d like to thank those of you who will be staying for today's debate. I’d like to confirm that I have given a minute of my time to—

Would the Members leaving do so quietly so that everybody can hear Heledd Fychan's contribution?

Thank you, Dirprwy Lywydd. I'd like to confirm that I have given a minute of my time to Sioned Williams today.

Every day, around the world, it is estimated that 300 million people bleed due to menstruation. It's a completely normal act—as normal as going to the bathroom—but for far too long, talking about periods has been taboo. Indeed, despite the fact that there has been more open discussion about periods over recent years, it remains something that many people are uncomfortable discussing, and, as such, something that many women and people who have periods feel ashamed of.

This is for a variety of reasons, such as a lack of education regarding periods; a lack of access to water infrastructure, sanitation and hygiene; and above all, a lack of access to appropriate period products. Being able to manage your periods safely, and with confidence and dignity, is crucial not only for health and education, but also for economic development and general equality. Unfortunately, however, even here in Wales in 2022, this is not a right that everyone has, and we have a problem in terms of period poverty.

At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the work undertaken by the Welsh Government in this regard, including the period dignity strategic action plan and the investment that has been made over recent years in ensuring that more products are available free of charge to those who need them in Wales. I fully support the vision and objectives of the plan, and I welcome the clear and unambiguous statements that the Government has made in this regard. I do not doubt in any way the commitment of the Government or the Minister, and I know that the work in the plan is progressing.

The purpose of this debate, therefore, is to ask the Minister and the Government to go one step further and to make this a commitment that is protected by law, by introducing a specific period products law, such as the one that came into force in Scotland in August this year. I will therefore focus on why I believe that there is a need for this, and I will draw attention to the fact that, despite the Government's commendable work in this area, period poverty remains a problem here in Wales today, and an issue that continues to require attention and action.

I’m ashamed to admit that period poverty isn’t something I’d been very aware of prior to becoming a councillor in 2017. It was an issue that was raised by my then fellow Plaid Cymru councillor on Rhondda Cynon Taf council, Elyn Stephens, when she asked us as a group to support a notice of motion that she wanted to submit, urging the council to look into providing free sanitary products in all secondary schools in the county borough, as an acknowledgment that they are as essential as toilet paper for the personal hygiene of female pupils. She spoke openly and bravely about her own experience of not being able to afford products, and what this had meant in terms of her own dignity. She also shared how this also impacted on her, and others she knew, not being able to attend school when they were menstruating, therefore also missing out on education just because of a normal bodily function.

I was a member of the working group set up to look into this issue, and as part of this work, we asked for evidence via a survey from teachers and also from female pupils about the situation as they saw it then. Seven hundred and eighty-four female learners took part in the survey, and focus groups were also held between pupils and the working group to better understand directly what the issues were. They were very, very clear with us that period poverty was an issue, with one attendee stating, 'People miss school because of periods or leave school early if they have an accident or need sanitary products and don’t have them on them—it affects attendance.' This was a view supported by 64 per cent of headteachers, with this rising to 86 per cent of responses from reception staff and 75 per cent for school nurses. So, an acknowledgement that period poverty was having a direct impact on attendance.

Common issues were not knowing where to access free products even if they were available, or being made to feel too embarrassed to ask rather than being able to access them themselves. We also uncovered evidence that there was a huge amount of misinformation and misunderstanding amongst male teachers and young men about periods, with some thinking that you could choose when you bleed, a bit like choosing when you go to the toilet. This meant that girls were being denied permission to go the toilet, resulting in accidents even when they had products to hand, or not being able to access them because they were not allowed to take their bags to the toilet with them.

I’m glad to say that this did lead to a policy change in RCT, and was a contributing factor, I believe, alongside other similar campaigns at the time, that led to Welsh Government committing resources to address the issue too. We have come a long way since then, but though there has been progress, there is more to do, and it’s important that we keep talking about and normalising periods so that progress isn’t lost. And there are many people doing just that.

Many Senedd Members will be aware, I’m sure, of Molly Fenton, who founded the Love Your Period campaign, and is doing so much to break taboos and raise awareness about this issue. I’d like to thank her for her important work, and how she continues to highlight the challenges in ensuring that free products reach those who need them. A recent survey she sent out to students and parents across Cardiff revealed that 97 per cent of pupils hadn’t received essential period products from their schools to help them make it through the summer holidays, meaning that there is still work to be done to make access easier. The products are now available for free, but they're not reaching those who need them.

I’d also like to publicly send my solidarity to Molly, after seeing the comments that were left on a video that she made about her campaign last year for Welsh Government. The attacks were hugely personal and cruel, and Molly was brave enough to reshare and highlight some of them just recently—they were horrific, and I wouldn’t even want to give them air time in this Chamber by repeating them. But all this was just about speaking about period dignity, just about talking about a normal bodily function. And she referenced, in a recent tweet, the song, ‘The Man’ by Taylor Swift, and she simply asked,

'If I was male, people wouldn’t be focusing on how pretty my outfit was, or how it complimented my figure. And that what I’m doing is amazing, instead of being put down for being pushy and out of line. It’s absurd and needs to stop'.

I couldn’t agree more with you, Molly, and I would hope that all Members of the Senedd would join me in condemning those who have criticised her and the campaign, and vow today to support the normalisation of talking about periods.

Period poverty isn’t only something that impacts young people, and I think we also need to acknowledge today the possibility that the cost-of-living crisis will lead to more people who menstruate not being able to access the products they need. Anecdotally, this is something that was shared as a concern in a recent cost-of-living event that I organised in my region, where foodbanks and others reported an increase in demand for period products, as well as other hygiene products. Recent reports also show an increase in the cost of period products, with the mysupermarketcompare website recently showing that a box of 18 Tampax Pearl Compak Super Plus tampons were on sale at one supermarket for £1.95 a few weeks ago, but that now, only a 16-pack is available for £2.60; that’s 65p more for two fewer tampons, or 50 per cent more per tampon.

It's also an issue that impacts refugee women, as highlighted by the Women for Refugee Women charity, which supports women who are seeking asylum in the UK. They found that 75 per cent of women they interviewed struggled to obtain period pads or tampons, forcing them to overuse a period product, improvise period wear, or beg for money to buy a pad. But, as I said earlier, this debate isn’t about trying to persuade the Welsh Government that period poverty is an issue; we are all well aware of this, and I would hope that we are all committed to putting in place actions to help eradicate this issue. Rather, the focus is on the need for them to take that extra step by enshrining this work in law via a period products Bill, as has happened in Scotland.

This was a campaign that was led by the Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament, Monica Lennon, and came into force on 15 August of this year. The aim of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 is to tackle period poverty, promote period dignity and break the stigma surrounding periods in Scotland. As a result of the Bill, Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products available for free to all, by making it now a legal duty for local authorities, education providers and specified public service bodies to provide products easily available, as well as being free of charge.

Earlier this year, I visited Scotland as part of my work representing the Senedd on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, and I was immediately struck by the fact that period products were just as accessible wherever I went as toilet paper was—so, in all public toilets I used, including at the airport. Contrast this to our own Senedd and toilets used by us and staff where there are products available, but in a machine on a wall, meaning that even if you can afford to access them, it isn’t always possible if you don’t have coins. Can you imagine a situation where we would be okay with putting toilet paper in a machine, and asking people to pay for each sheet? There would rightly be outrage. Yet, that’s what happens day in, day out, when it comes to period products in Wales, even in this very building. And that’s what introducing a Bill and legislation has changed in Scotland.

Some of you may be wondering why there's a need to legislate on this issue, when we already have a positive action plan in place. Well, as we all know in this Senedd, legislation makes a strong statement that can have a more far-reaching effect on cultural practices and expectations. There are many examples where a legislative change has led to cultural changes that have affected people's everyday lives—issues such as the physical punishment of children, the disposal of plastic bags, wearing a seat belt in the car, and so forth. Setting standards about the way that we would like to live in legislation ensures a stronger, far-reaching message for the future, and it ensures that no-one will have to miss out or feel embarrassed about having a period and needing period products in the future.

So my plea to the Minister today is: please continue the great work that you are already doing, but please go that step further by also enshrining the right to free period products, wherever you are in Wales, in law. Action plans are great but can lose momentum when competing with other priorities. This is the only way to fully realise our shared ambition for ensuring period dignity for all. It is all of our responsibility—whether we have periods or not—to help eradicate period poverty. Diolch.

This isn't only an issue of gender equality, but it's also an issue of social justice. We know that the cost-of-living crisis is affecting women disproportionately, and, according to a recent YouGov survey, one in eight people say they'll struggle to afford period products over the next year. And of course, periods are not a choice, and, for many women, they're a challenge—it affects their health, education, and sometimes their entire lives. Plan International found that 49 per cent of girls have missed at least one full day of school or college due to their period. It's important to note that that statistic is a UK-wide statistic, not Wales-specific. We perhaps do need more data on this, in order to fully address the issues that we've heard about this afternoon. If periods are seen as taboo and not discussed, girls won't feel comfortable asking for period products, and therefore are more likely to stay off school. Free sanitary products in workplace bathrooms can have an impact in terms of reducing absenteeism, because people aren't having to find excuses to go and buy period products or stay home because of their anxiety around having to cope with their period in work. So, periods are normal and natural, they should be a part of everyday school life, work life, and social life, and they should not have a negative effect on your life, wherever you live in Wales.

I call on the Minister for Social Justice to reply to the debate. Jane Hutt.

Diolch yn fawr, Dirprwy Llywydd. And diolch, Heledd, for bringing forward this important topic for your short debate today. I recall debating period poverty probably about four or five years ago, with Jenny Rathbone, I think—a motion that we jointly promoted—and it was the first time that this had been debated in the devolved Welsh Parliament. It was a breakthrough at the time, that we were debating it, and it led to Government action. And also, thank you for recognising the work that the Welsh Government has done, over a number of years now, on financial initiatives to tackle period poverty, because eradicating period poverty means ensuring that having a period does not lead to missed education, absences from work, or withdrawal, indeed, from sports and social activities. As Sioned Williams has said, this is a matter of social justice.

So, since 2018, we have invested around £12 million to ensure that period products are freely available in schools and colleges across Wales, and in community settings. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, this was extended to allow local councils, local authorities, more flexibility to ensure that products were available for those who needed them, via a variety of means, including issuing vouchers in places in Wales where it was difficult to provide delivery or collection of products. And I recall asking how schools were going to get products, which we were obviously funding and providing, and then making sure that they were available, if not at the school, then in the community.

So thank you also, Heledd, for highlighting the important role of local elected members, including your colleague and yourself—and I recall hearing about that initiative in Rhondda Cynon Taf. And of course, all across Wales now, Members have engaged with this to make sure that the delivery of the products and the investment that we're making is well used. I think it's about working together to make sure that that provision is right. And over the years, we've talked to schools' councils, we've talked to boys as well as girls, we've come together with schools to openly challenge the ignorance and stigma that we've been discussing this afternoon, and, of course, that means engaging the whole school staff, not just the teachers, but the heads and the leadership and all who are engaged.

In the context, as you say, of the current cost-of-living crisis, the issue of period poverty is starker than ever. So, I am pleased to have increased the period dignity grant by £450,000 this year, to strengthen local authorities' response to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Our total period dignity grant for this financial year now totals over £3.7 million. Local authorities are working hard to ensure that, in addition to getting products in every school and college in Wales, they're available, as we all know, across a range of community venues, and this includes foodbanks and pantries, libraries, youth centres and community hubs. I'm pleased that every women's refuge in Wales has been offered funding to ensure they have period products available to support those fleeing domestic abuse. And we need to make sure free products are fully available and accessible in designated places and that people know about them and they're not locked away in machines that you have to pay for, as you said.

We're now developing a map of places in Wales where products are available, to give people control over seeking products and seeing where they are available near them. This will help eradicate barriers to access and promotes true period dignity. We've worked with local authorities to ensure the information is up to date and easily accessible, and you will be able to use the map's filters to identify different types of organisations that supply period products and find the place that is closest to you. Because ensuring that we get the products to reach those in need is critical to the success of the grant. We have commissioned an evaluation into the impact of the period dignity grant to understand how the current measures could be improved to ensure that it does reach vulnerable communities across Wales and also focuses support for those families who need access most to the projects funded through the grant. We're also asking local authorities to report against their spend twice a year instead of once a year, so that we can really closely monitor how the grant is distributed and make adjustments, if needed. We're processing this year's mid-year claims; we've seen promising work undertaken, including subscription services, where those in need can order products straight to their home address, in addition to ensuring that, in the case of emergency period products, they are available throughout the community. So, you can see from these examples that local authorities, who are at the delivery end, are actually learning how they can get the products to people as a result of engagement and learning through the delivery of the grant.

But we also have a chance to provide opportunities for a wider range of products, which have the added benefit of helping the environment. So, this year we've increased the requirement for local authorities to spend a percentage of their funding on reusable or plastic-free products from 50 per cent to 65 per cent. The initial cost of reusable products can of course be a barrier for some, and we want to give people an opportunity to try these products without being out of pocket. Reusable products may not be for everyone, and there's no pressure to switch to these products; it's about choice for the user, and they may choose to continue to use disposable products but opt for some that are plastic free instead, and these products can also contribute to the 65 per cent requirement. To support increasing knowledge and understanding of these projects, we've allowed up to 20 per cent of the grant allocated to local authorities to be used for the purposes of training or education within schools and communities for professionals, learners and community members, and any training and education must provide information about the opportunity to take home reusable period products. This, again, has come as a result of learning and feedback from local authorities that they need that training and education to engage, as I said, with the whole school staff and community.

So, we are committed to eradicating period poverty, continuing to look for ways to improve fair and equitable access to products, but we're clear that eradicating period poverty goes far beyond the provision of products. We want to eliminate the shame, stigma and silence that so frequently surrounds conversations about periods, which prevents some from accessing or being offered the help and support they need, and that maybe access to products, how to manage their period safely, understanding the menstrual cycle, having knowledge and understanding to make an informed choice about the products they use and when they may need support from a medical professional.

So, we are at the start of a new phase in the journey towards complete period dignity in Wales, and I'll shortly be publishing 'A period proud Wales', our plan for eliminating period poverty and achieving period dignity for all by 2027. This plan sets out our ambition to ensure that women, girls and people who menstruate have access to essential products when they need them, to provide education and resources to drive up understanding, and eradicate stigma and shame associated.

We will be launching a national campaign and call action for all to make Wales a period proud nation. We have had a lot of consultation to get us to this point, and I'm very pleased to say that I've engaged very much with our round-table of different interests and experiences—people from local authorities, organisations, Children in Wales and others, including Molly Fenton of the Love Your Period campaign. Molly has been a key part of our engagement. It's been very cross-governmental in terms of education, health and collaboration with the NHS's Bloody Brilliant web resource. So, I think, just to say again, in response, Heledd, to your points about Molly Fenton's contribution, I endorse your support and recognition of what Molly has achieved, her strength, her courage, and condemn the abuse that she experienced as a result of her campaigning stance. She continues to engage with us and influence us, because we need that expert advice of people with lived experience on the development of policy and strategy. I am, in fact, meeting the group at the end of this month, and they will be very pleased to hear about this debate today. 

Can I just thank Children in Wales, Women Connect First and Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales—they've all supported us in engaging with young people—and also all of those who we've met through schools, and, indeed, Women Connect First enabling us to meet particularly with black, Asian and minority ethnic women?

So, finally, just to say, in terms of your call for legislation, we've not currently identified a need for legislation, given the breadth of work we're undertaking and the culture change that I do believe is already starting, because our work is based on mutual learning and collaboration to achieve the progress that legislation could offer. But we are remaining in close contact with our colleagues in Scotland and in Northern Ireland to understand the impact of the legislation and any lessons that we can learn. But I'm proud of the work that we are undertaking in Wales together to eliminate period poverty and achieve period dignity, and I thank you for your contribution today with this debate, and believe we are well on our way to becoming a period proud nation. Diolch.

Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Heledd, for this debate. That brings today's proceedings to a close.

The meeting ended at 18:53.