Letter to Lucy Powell MP on provision of period products

With MPs from other parties I have written to Lucy Powell on the provision of period products.

16th June 2025

FAO: Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP

Leader of the House of Commons and

Chair of the Modernisation Committee

Sent via email. 

Dear Lucy,

RE: Provision of period products on the Parliamentary Estate

We are writing to you regarding the provision of free period products across the parliamentary estate. The current protocol states ‘period products for emergency use are available free of charge in selected toilets across the parliamentary estate’. This is simply not fit for purpose – those who need to access period products must be able to do so across the entirety of the estate. It is not feasible, or indeed fair, that menstruating individuals should have to either pay or source a map to find where they can access the sanitary products they need, in the middle of their working day.

Research conducted in 2023 found 21% of women and people who menstruate in the UK struggle to afford period products. Not only does this cause financial worries as well as potential embarrassment and anxiety, but it can also result in serious health conditions.

Access to period products is a matter of dignity, health and equality. Whilst the UK Parliament has made good progress in becoming a more modern workplace, there is still some way to go. Looking to our counterparts in the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd and the Northern Irish Assembly, they have all implemented provision of free period products within their Parliament. We need to lead by example and ensure that no one who works in these buildings here in Westminster is disadvantaged by a lack of access to essential sanitary products.

We therefore ask that period products be provided free of charge in every toilet across the Parliamentary estate, as soon as is possible, to ensure that Parliament is an accessible workspace for all.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

We very much look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Sally Donald, Co-Chair of the ParliGender Committee & Head of Office to Graham Leadbitter MP

Sadik Al-Hassan MP

Paula Barker MP

Lorraine Beavers MP

Apsana Begum MP

Siân Berry MP

Matt Bishop MP

Kirsty Blackman MP

Chris Bloore MP

Ian Byrne MP

Ellie Chowns MP

Daisy Cooper MP

Jeremy Corbyn MP

Emily Darlington MP

Carla Denyer MP

Dave Doogan MP

Graeme Downie MP

Sarah Edwards MP

Kirith Entwistle MP

Neil Duncan-Jordan MP

Stephen Flynn MP

Stephen Gethins MP

Olly Glover MP

Gill Furniss MP

Jodie Gosling MP

Amanda Hack MP

Kim Johnson MP

Mary Kelly Foy MP

Uma Kumaran MP

Chris Law MP

Graham Leadbitter MP

Seamus Logan MP

Helen Maguire MP

John McDonnell MP

John Milne MP

Grahame Morris MP

Susan Murray MP

Joe Powell MP

Yasmin Qureshi MP

Martin Rhodes MP

Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP

Anna Sabine MP

Will Stone MP

Zarah Sultana MP
Pete Wishart MP

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