to sanitary products, including those experiencing homelessness and those in financial hardship

as a consequence of the pandemic. Would my Honourable Friend kindly outline for the House what

steps she is taking to promote access to female sanitary products?

Mr Speaker, the government has taken several important steps to ensure women are able to access

the sanitary products they need. From 1st of january 2021 the tampon tax has been abolished with a zero

rate of vat applying to women's sanitary products coming into effect the department for education

is leading a scheme to provide access to free period products in schools and colleges in england

NHS england also announced in march 2019 that it will offer free period products in schools and colleges in England. NHS England also announced in March 2019 that it will offer free period products to every

hospital patient who needs them, including long-term patients, and the Home Office has changed

the law to ensure all people in custody are provided with health and hygiene products for free,

including period products.

Let's go to Chair Moro. Chair.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. In lockdown, we have all become so much more dependent on technology,

and yet that technology is not designed to treat us equally.

Video conferencing and photo sharing apps, which don't recognize black faces,

recruitment algorithms which discriminate on ethnicity, and the Home Office's own visa application algorithm withdrawn because of bias. In this week of the International

Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, what is she doing to prevent structural

racism being further entrenched by new technologies?

The Honourable Lady raises a very interesting question.

This is something that the government is aware of and is looking into.

And in fact, I spoke to Dr. Tony Seaw yesterday, who's sharing the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.

And I am aware that this is something that they have researched extensively and I look forward to seeing

...