MORE than half-a-million people across Scotland can now access free period products, the Scottish Government said as MSPs were urged to back legislation to provide them for all in need.
Ministers said they have invested £15 million to help make sanitary towels and tampons available for free and tackle the stigma surrounding periods.
Speaking following a visit to an Asda store in Edinburgh where free period products are provided in toilets, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said the Government is “committed to making sure our work is reaching everyone it should”.
She said: “The work we are doing in Scotland is world-leading and
I am delighted we are now reaching up to 500,000 women and girls.”
But Labour’s Monica Lennon called on the SNP and Scottish Conservatives to drop opposition to her plans for a new law aimed at ending period poverty.
Her Member’s Bill to provide free period products to all who need them was rejected by a Holyrood committee last week.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here