To ask the Minister of Health, in the absence of an Executive, what steps he is able to take to facilitate the full implementation of the Period Products (Free Provision) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 and the provision of free period products.

My Department is taking forward the necessary preparatory work to progress our duty under Section 2(1) of the Act, to specify via regulations which of the public service bodies within our functions must make period products obtainable free of charge in its premises. Under Section 6 of the Act, the body is required to make sufficient products available to meet the needs of persons while they are on the premises, but not products for use elsewhere.

Section 1(1) of the Act places a duty on The Executive Office (TEO) to make period products obtainable free of charge within Northern Ireland by all persons who need to use them, in accordance with arrangements established and maintained by The Executive Office.