Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what research has been conducted into the number of school days missed by female pupils who live in households unable to afford female sanitary products; and what guidance her Department has issued on the provision of such products.

The Department has not conducted any research about the number of school days missed by female pupils who live in households unable to afford sanitary products.

Paragraph 2.8 of the current guidance to schools on Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) encourages schools to make adequate and sensitive arrangements to help girls cope with menstruation and with requests for sanitary protection.