We support schools in addressing the needs of disadvantaged pupils through the provision of the Pupil Premium, equivalent to almost £2.5bn of additional funding this year alone. Schools have discretion over how they use their funding and can make sanitary products available, if they identify this as a barrier to attendance.

Work gives people the best opportunity to move out of poverty. We’re committed to helping people find work through a wide-range of support targeted to each individual’s personal circumstances. As a safeguard for people needing more support, we have a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans.

We have not estimated the full cost of delivering sanitary products to schools. We do want to find out more about the issue, which is why we have placed questions in the department’s 2018 surveys for pupils and senior school leaders.

We support schools in addressing the needs of disadvantaged pupils through the provision of the Pupil Premium, equivalent to almost £2.5bn of additional funding this year alone. Schools have discretion over how they use their funding and can make sanitary products available, if they identify this as a barrier to attendance.

Many homeless services, including hostels and day centres, will make sanitary products available for free to service users. Food banks represent an impressive response by civil society and faith groups to support vulnerable people. Jobcentre Plus offer a signposting service to those who have expressed an interest in using a food bank.