Let’s lead the world on period poverty
MSP will call for sanitary products to be free across the country
SCOTLAND could become the first country in the world to provide free access to sanitary products, under plans from Scottish Labour.
The party’s Monica Lennon is due to launch a proposal today to create a law in Scotland which would put a duty on Ministers to provide free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities.
The aim is to extend the provision in future after the scheme is rolled out across the education system.
Lennon, who is Labour’s inequalities spokeswoman at Holyrood, said access to sanitary products should be a basic right.
The Scottish Government recently launched a pilot scheme in Aberdeen, where low-income women and girls are offered free sanitary products.
Lennon wants to take the scheme further – providing free vending machines across the country to give women the products they need.
She said: “Scotland has the opportunity to be a world leader in ending period poverty.
“That’s why I intend to introduce a legal duty on the Scottish Government to develop a universal system in Scotland which will provide free sanitary products for anyone who needs them.
“My proposal also includes a statutory duty on schools, colleges and universities to provide free sanitary products in their toilets.
“Having your period shouldn’t result in anyone missing class.” Unlike many other medical products, sanitary items are still subject to five per cent VAT in the UK, with the Government so far resisting calls to ditch the so-called “tampon tax”.
The pilot in Aberdeen is run by Community Food Initiatives North East, a social enterprise focused on improving health for those in poverty, funded by £42,500 from the Scottish Government.
The six-month trial will run in seven areas being regenerated across the city, helping more than 1000 women and schoolgirls.
Eligible women will be issued with a so-called “S-Card” they can show at their local pharmacy, supermarket or doctor to get the products for free.