Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the level of VAT imposed on women's sanitary products; and what assessment she has made of the impact of that policy on equalities issues.

The Government made a legal commitment to apply a zero rate of VAT to women’s sanitary products as soon as we are legally able in this year’s Finance Act, which received Royal Assent on 16 September 2016. While we remain in the EU, we will continue to fulfil our obligations to it, including applying EU law on VAT. The Minister has therefore had no further discussions on this issue.