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.