FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS FOR SOUTH SCOTLAND

Scotland has become the first country in the world to ‘make period poverty history’ – after MSPs at Holyrood voted to put into legislation that anyone in Scotland can access free period products.

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill enshrines the right to access free period products for anyone who menstruates in Scotland. This will be through a duty placed on local authorities and education providers to make period products obtainable for free to anyone who needs to use them.

The Scottish Government became a world leader as the first country to provide free products for pupils and students in education, as well as to women on low-incomes across a range of community settings – investing over £21 million in the scheme.

South of Scotland MSP who is Deputy Convener of Health and Sport Committee, Emma Harper, commented;

“I’m delighted that the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill has been made law and I’m proud that Scotland is leading the way with this important legislation. This is a great move in providing free access and period dignity for my South Scotland constituents.

“My colleague Gillian Martin first took a motion on access to period products to the SNP Conference in 2016 as we want everyone, regardless of their circumstances, to be able to access essential period products.

“The SNP in Government has already taken world-leading action to improve access to period products, including provision of free period products in schools, colleges and universities and to those on low-incomes.

“The Scottish Government and Monica Lennon MSP have now worked well and hard together to ensure that this legislation can be supported across all parties, and that the progress made so far will now be guaranteed in law through access to free products.