Law to tackle period poverty to come before Holyrood

Legislation to end “period poverty” in Scotland appears likely to come before Holyrood as a proposal for a member's bill has won the necessary cross-party support.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon wants to introduce the bill, which would bring in:

• a duty on Scottish ministers to introduce a universal system of free provision of sanitary products;
• a duty on all schools to provide free sanitary products in school toilets;
• a duty on all colleges and universities to provide free sanitary products in campus toilets; and
• measures to allow Scottish ministers to extend these duties to other bodies in future, if deemed appropriate or necessary.

Ms Lennon argues that period poverty is a serious problem, with many women and girls on low incomes unable to afford proper sanitary products to deal with what is a natural bodily function, having to resort to inadequate and unhygienic alternatives. A recent survey found that more than two fifths of girls had used toilet roll to manage their periods.

Her consultation on the plan suggested that a card system could be used, modelled on the “C-card” scheme under which individuals in some health board areas in Scotland can obtain free condoms if they produce it at designated distribution points.

Responses were received from 109 organisations and 1,644 individuals, with an overwhelming majority (96%) supporting the proposal in whole or part.

Welcoming the support, Ms Lennon commented: “Scotland can lead the world on period poverty – and it is a positive step that all the parties at the Scottish Parliament have united behind these proposals.

“Access to sanitary products should be a basic right but sadly in Scotland we know that not everyone can afford or obtain what they need.”