Period gain

Excellent news. For years I have wanted this. Many, many girls and women are left distressed every month without the financial wherewithal to be comfortable and clean during their period.

Kathleen Mullan So let's fund them, not the whole country! It should go to families on benefits only! No quarrel with that! (Same as free TV for over 75s!) I don't begrudge anyone who is genuinely struggling. I just begrudge giving freebies to people who can afford to buy them!

Eileen Johnson While I commend this, let's not kid ourselves it's "free", any more than university tuition, prescriptions and all the other benefits are. The popularity of these handouts is understandable but shouldn't be taken as serious political support. After all, few people will reject a freebie!

Eugene Clarke You are splitting hairs. Of course nothing is free. But it’s obvious they mean free to access, as in they don’t have to be paid for as in a shop. They will be paid for by those of us who pay tax. And I for one do not grudge that.

Morag Phillips

It costs more to means test, that is why governments consider the masses.

Mairi Mackinnon

Fantastic. They are still available to buy but this will solve a lot of problems for people who are struggling

Gil Brownlie

With poverty at 23% of population, this is a very welcome move.

Melissa Taylor Nobody should not be able to access basic period products, women and girls do not choose to menstruate each month, this is long overdue and I’m glad Scotland is leading the way on this.

Clare AA Eadie I think this is a good move, however more pressing issues that need attention at the moment I feel, especially as schools already provide free sanitary products for girls.

Jay Ack That is fantastic... I'm past needing them, but what a boon for women who still need it!

Karina Benish It’s not free tampons for all, its just in public toilets and schools etc. We get free toilet paper in those places already so why is everyone freaking out?

Rachel Rennie

I'd rather have the education for our children as good as it used to be. Baby boxes and period products don't help the education of our children, which should be the priority as they are our future.

Lynne Macdonald

Is there a class in school that young women in poverty can take that stops them ovulating? If not, you’re missing the point.

Callum Ferguson

I would think if a student was comfortable on her period then she would be unable to concentrate on her education – it isn’t taking anything away

from education

Kathleen Coull It used to annoy me intensely that they even charged VAT for sanitary products. Some luxury item, eh?

Juli Harris

Most people will just do their own thing. The biggest difference will be all.the ruined businesses.

Llorna Sshiels

Why the fuss? Christmas Day only became a public holiday in Scotland in 1958.

Philip Hartley

All I want for Christmas is for the SNP to be transported to some distant galaxy.

Christopher Glen

Then move to England where there is no Covid, everyone

Grace Chilles

Only thing guaranteed is it will be different to what everyone else agrees to.

Diane Davidson

I’m sure people who lived through the war years might not find this year so challenging.

Gordon Mcinally

My mum who lived and served during the war thinks this is tougher. In the war people were forced together in the shelters and whilst there was rationing there was also a lot of looking after each other. As a young Wren she said things like dance halls were still open, as were cinemas. Her biggest fear seems to have been the rats in Portsmouth Dockyard.

Steffi Mcintyre

My cousin said it is tougher than during the war.

Lesley Downie