Baroness Benjamin

It is crucial that every young person is supported to achieve and thrive. All state-maintained primary and secondary schools, alongside 16-19 educational organisations, are eligible for the period products scheme, which supports this by providing free period products to girls and women in their place of study so that nobody misses out on education because of their period. There is high take-up from the sector, with 99% of secondary schools having used the scheme since it began.

The scheme assists in breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation by making products readily available during school time. Guidance for the scheme suggests that schools consider the potential impact of any perceived stigma around periods when making products available and contains several examples and insights from learners on how to best distribute products.

The advice on standards for school premises is clear that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils. It is for schools to find reasonable ways, in accordance with the law, to balance every child’s right to access clean and safe toilet facilities when they need them, with every child’s right to have a safe and calm environment to learn in. The guidance is attached and can also be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410294/Advice_on_standards_for_school_premises.pdf.

Since September 2020, menstrual wellbeing has been part of statutory health education for primary and secondary pupils. This includes being taught about menstrual wellbeing, key facts about the menstrual cycle and implications for emotional and physical health. The relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance is currently being reviewed and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has said that she will analyse consultation responses, look at recent evidence and talk with stakeholders before deciding on next steps. The RSHE statutory guidance is attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

It is crucial that every young person is supported to achieve and thrive. All state-maintained primary and secondary schools, alongside 16-19 educational organisations, are eligible for the period products scheme, which supports this by providing free period products to girls and women in their place of study so that nobody misses out on education because of their period. There is high take-up from the sector, with 99% of secondary schools having used the scheme since it began.

The scheme assists in breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation by making products readily available during school time. Guidance for the scheme suggests that schools consider the potential impact of any perceived stigma around periods when making products available and contains several examples and insights from learners on how to best distribute products.

The advice on standards for school premises is clear that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils. It is for schools to find reasonable ways, in accordance with the law, to balance every child’s right to access clean and safe toilet facilities when they need them, with every child’s right to have a safe and calm environment to learn in. The guidance is attached and can also be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410294/Advice_on_standards_for_school_premises.pdf.

Since September 2020, menstrual wellbeing has been part of statutory health education for primary and secondary pupils. This includes being taught about menstrual wellbeing, key facts about the menstrual cycle and implications for emotional and physical health. The relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance is currently being reviewed and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has said that she will analyse consultation responses, look at recent evidence and talk with stakeholders before deciding on next steps. The RSHE statutory guidance is attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

It is crucial that every young person is supported to achieve and thrive. All state-maintained primary and secondary schools, alongside 16-19 educational organisations, are eligible for the period products scheme, which supports this by providing free period products to girls and women in their place of study so that nobody misses out on education because of their period. There is high take-up from the sector, with 99% of secondary schools having used the scheme since it began.

The scheme assists in breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation by making products readily available during school time. Guidance for the scheme suggests that schools consider the potential impact of any perceived stigma around periods when making products available and contains several examples and insights from learners on how to best distribute products.

The advice on standards for school premises is clear that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils. It is for schools to find reasonable ways, in accordance with the law, to balance every child’s right to access clean and safe toilet facilities when they need them, with every child’s right to have a safe and calm environment to learn in. The guidance is attached and can also be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410294/Advice_on_standards_for_school_premises.pdf.

Since September 2020, menstrual wellbeing has been part of statutory health education for primary and secondary pupils. This includes being taught about menstrual wellbeing, key facts about the menstrual cycle and implications for emotional and physical health. The relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) statutory guidance is currently being reviewed and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has said that she will analyse consultation responses, look at recent evidence and talk with stakeholders before deciding on next steps. The RSHE statutory guidance is attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

The advice on standards for school premises (2015) is clear that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils. It is for schools to find reasonable ways, in accordance with the law, to balance every child’s right to access clean and safe toilet facilities when they need them, with every child’s right to have a safe and calm environment to learn in.

All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines effective strategies that will encourage good behaviour. It is for school leaders to develop and implement a policy which reflects their school’s individual contexts and needs. Any policy must be lawful, proportionate, and reasonable and comply with the school’s duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

The 'Behaviour in schools' guidance provides advice on how schools should use sanctions lawfully, including the need for a consistent approach and any adjustments that may need to be made.

The advice on standards for school premises (2015) is clear that suitable toilet and washing facilities must be provided for the sole use of pupils. It is for schools to find reasonable ways, in accordance with the law, to balance every child’s right to access clean and safe toilet facilities when they need them, with every child’s right to have a safe and calm environment to learn in.

All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines effective strategies that will encourage good behaviour. It is for school leaders to develop and implement a policy which reflects their school’s individual contexts and needs. Any policy must be lawful, proportionate, and reasonable and comply with the school’s duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Education and Inspections Act 2006.

The 'Behaviour in schools' guidance provides advice on how schools should use sanctions lawfully, including the need for a consistent approach and any adjustments that may need to be made.

The Department is currently considering allocations of funding following the Budget on 30 October. We will also set out further details on a national supervised toothbrushing scheme at the earliest opportunity.

We are committed to introducing a national supervised toothbrushing scheme, targeted at three- to five-year-olds living in the 20% most deprived areas of England. Supervised toothbrushing schemes are implemented on a setting-based approach, rather than an individual children approach. The number of children participating in schemes will be determined by rates of local participation.

The employer National Insurance rise will be implemented in April 2025, and the Department will set out further details on the allocation of funding for next year in due course.

To rebuild dentistry in the long term and increase access to National Health Service dental care, we will reform the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.

There are no perfect payment systems, and careful consideration needs to be given to any potential changes to the complex dental system so that we deliver a system better for patients and the profession.

As dental practices are private businesses, it falls to them to set employee pay and conditions. Dental care in England could not function without the vital contribution of its dental care professionals, including dental nurses. Department officials are exploring how we can better support the whole dental team, including dental nurses, when working in National Health Service dentistry.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance Contributions. Dentists and primary care providers are independent contractors and therefore will not be exempt from these changes.

Every year the Government consults with each sector both about what services they provide, and the money providers are entitled to in return under their contract. DHSC will confirm funding for primary care for 2025/26 as part of the usual contract processes later in the year, including through consultation with the sector.

The Government has increased funding for the NHS in England. Resource spending for the Department of Health and Social Care is set to increase by £22.6 billion in 2025-26 compared to 2023-24 outturn, providing a real-terms growth rate of 4% for the NHS, the largest since before 2010 excluding Covid-19 years. This includes funding to support the NHS to deliver the first step of an extra two million NHS operations, scans, and appointments a year in England.

The Government keeps all taxes under review.