Speeches by Whittome.

“Is there any data to support that being the case with—”

“Yes, and across the board with other mental health diagnoses.”

“Okay.”

“Please feel free to add to the previous question, but I have a further question to Aziza and Nighat. Are there circumstances in which young women, particularly those who experience very heavy bleeding, can get period products free on the NHS with a prescription? Would you support legislation to provide some or all wome…”

“First, I just wanted to say thank you so much. It has been particularly healing hearing Asian and black women, in particular, talking about this stuff. I feel like it undoes a lot of generational stigma, which obviously exists across all communities, but I am 29, and I still have not had my smear test, which I was obvi…”

“Thank you. Yes, is that okay?”

“It is on my 30 before 30 list, so that is how I know it is going to get done. First to Chella, you mentioned previously that the Department for Education’s period product scheme for state schools and FE colleges has improved. Does it ensure that appropriate and sufficient period products are available? Is that the case…”

“Kerry, you and Chella touched on this previously, but we have heard of schools locking toilets, which obviously prevents girls from accessing period products. Is that an issue? How common do you think that is? Is it something that you are aware of happening on a large scale? Do you think we need stronger DFE guidance t…”

“They have a needle and thread.”

“I welcome the £550 million investment in victims, but trial by a jury of your peers is a cornerstone of the criminal justice system in this country. Court backlogs are a serious problem—I know that first hand—but the evidence shows that this is because of issues such as a chronic lack of funding, rather than the use of…”

“That is really helpful, thank you. Are the November 2024 NICE endometriosis guidelines having a positive impact? If so, which elements are having the greatest effect on diagnosis times?”

“Emma, our report identified unacceptably long delays in women receiving diagnoses, including for endometriosis. In your experience, are diagnosis waiting times improving? If not, what further steps are required?”

“Janet, what progress has been made on research in relation to new diagnostic tests for reproductive and menstrual health conditions?”

“Nandi, we know from international evidence that black women, and I imagine other women of colour, are less likely than our white counterparts to receive a diagnosis for endometriosis. Is that pattern replicated in the UK? If so, what are the causes of that, and how do you think that disparity can be addressed?”

“2. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of implementing asylum policies similar to Denmark on asylum seekers and refugees.”

“Earlier the Home Secretary advised that I wait for the detail of the reforms before criticising them. Now the detail is out, and I am afraid it does not reassure me in the slightest. It is hard to know where to begin when so much of what has been announced flies in the face of decency and compassion, but I will focus o…”

“The Denmark-style policies briefed in the last couple of days are dystopian. It is shameful that a Labour Government are ripping up the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma. Is this how we would want to be treated if we were fleeing for our lives? Of course not. How can we be adopting s…”

“How about on some issues we mentioned earlier around cost of living, housing and public services: the second strand of the strategy, as you put it?”

“That is very useful. Thank you very much, and thank you for the work you do. Sunder, you spoke at the beginning of the session about the ways in which the cost of living crisis, problems with housing and public services are driving this discontent, and how failures in those areas have undermined public trust in politic…”

“We have the Budget in two weeks. What spending decisions do you think would help support community cohesion, and what would undermine it?”