§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will offer financial support to women for the purchase of sanitary products. [140895]
§ Dr. LadymanThe Government accept without question that sanitary protection is essential for women's personal hygiene. However, these are not for medical use and cannot be provided on the national health service. To show the Government's willingness to listen to the views and concerns of women throughout the country, VAT on women's sanitary products was cut to five per cent. from January 2001.