PERIOD POVERTY END NOW IN SIGHT
Politicians unite to pass landmark vote on providing free access to sanitary products
A WORLD-LEADING campaign for free sanitary products in Scotland has passed its first major hurdle at Holyrood.
MSPs from all parties backed proposals to tackle “period poverty”, but there are concerns about the cost.
Labour’s Monica Lennon, who drafted the plan, hailed the vote as a landmark moment.
She said: “This is an amazing victory for everyone who has campaigned for free universal access to period products and who has convinced the Scottish Government to back this Bill.
“Scotland has already taken important steps towards improving access to period products and tackling stigma but legislation will guarantee rights, ensure that current initiatives continue in future on a universal basis, and will help us achieve period dignity for all.”
The proposals will now be scrutinised by a committee of MSPs before the Scottish Parliament makes a final decision.
If it passes the final stage, the legislation will ensure free universal access to period products for anyone who needs them, and put a duty on schools, colleges and universities to make them available in toilets.
The stage one vote follows a U-turn by the Scottish Government, which last week announced that it would back the general aim of the Period Products Bill.
The SNP had earlier been ridiculed for suggesting the plan might lead to cross-border tampon raids.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said ministers still had concerns and would work with Lennon to produce more “robust” figures about costs.
Lennon estimated the Bill would cost £9.7million a year but the Scottish Government expects it to reach £24million.
The SNP has already invested millions of pounds to make free products available but not on a universal basis.
Campbell said: “No one in government disagrees with the need to ensure period dignity exists in our country.
“That is why we have agreed to support the principles of the Bill at stage one.”
SNP MSP James Dornan was the only politician to abstain in the vote. He convenes the committee that will scrutinise the details of the legislation.