MSPs urged to 'do the right thing' and back bill for free period products

Holyrood has been urged to make Scotland the first country in the world to legislate to provide free period products, with the MSP behind the move insisting it is the right thing to do''. Monica Lennon conceded her Bill, which would introduce a legal right of access to free products such as tampons and sanitary pads, isambitious''.

But she said the approach so far adopted by Scottish ministers, providing targeted help for low-income women, mean some risk missing out.

She said: For those people who can't afford it, this universal scheme will be a lifeline. That is fundamentally what this Bill is about.''

She was speaking after dozens of charities, organisations and campaign groups signed an open letter in support of her Bill.

Giving evidence on the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, the Labour MSP called on Holyrood to send a clear message that this Parliament takes period dignity and access to period products seriously''.

She added: It is ambitious because we would be the first country in the world to take this step, but it is the right thing to do.''

MSPs quizzed her on the cost - which Ms Lennon has put at £9.7 million a year but the Scottish Government has said could be £24 million annually.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson said: The nub of this is we actually have no idea what this would cost if this legislation was passed. Nobody has a clue.''

He told Ms Lennon: The figures you have provided are way different to those of the Scottish Government, so I don't know who is right and who is wrong.''

The Labour MSP said she had set out costings in detail'', based on figures drawn from Scottish Government information.

But she said: In contrast the Scottish Government has not set out workings for how its higher estimated costs have been arrived at.''

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing claimed the plans would be much, much more expensive than the approach the Scottish Government is taking''.

Ms Ewing questioned what would have to be cut from the Scottish Budget to pay for the scheme, if the legislation is passed.

But Ms Lennon said the move could be seen as an investment in women and girls''.

She said: We have heard about the cost of not doing this, about the people who find themselves in period poverty, the people who can't experience period dignity.

I think there is an opportunity in doing this, we've heard about the benefits in terms of productivity, about participation, about quality of life, about the benefits to education.

This is an investment, an investment in our young people, an investment in women. It's about making sure women and girls feel valued.''

The Scottish Government already funds free period products in schools, universities and colleges across Scotland, potentially helping almost 400,000 students.

In addition, more than 35,000 women who are deemed as being most in need benefit from free products, with ministers also providing £2.8 million to ensure pads and tampons are made available in buildings such as libraries, community centres, council offices and public toilets.

As a result, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell has already told the committee the Bill is not needed.

She previously told MSPs: We do believe we are beginning to see a culture change and there is a risk that introducing legislation now would encourage people to meet only minimum standard, compared to what we are seeing in the public, private and third sectors, where organisations are going above and beyond.''