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.