About the Bill
A Bill for an Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for free period products for anyone who needs them.
Current Status of the Bill
This Member’s Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by Monica Lennon MSP, on 23 April 2019.
Stage 1
The Parliamentary Bureau designated the Local Government and Communities Committee as the lead Committee for the Bill.
Call for Written Evidence
The Committee launched a call for written evidence on Monday 16 September 2019 as part of its Stage 1 scrutiny of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill. The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill was introduced into Parliament by Monica Lennon on 23 April 2019. The Bill's main policy objectives are to ensure that everyone in Scotland who needs to use period products can obtain them free of charge through a "period products scheme" which the Scottish Government would have to set up. The Bill requires primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities to make period products free in all appropriate toilets and enables Ministers to place a similar duty on other organisations. Those using the scheme must be able to obtain period products "reasonably easily" and with "reasonable privacy" and can choose to have products delivered or collected. The scheme must also ensure that a choice of different types of period products are available. Under the Bill, Scottish Ministers must publicise the scheme and may compensate those obliged to provide free products.
Organisations and individuals were invited to submit written evidence to the Committee setting out their views on the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill. These views then informed the Committee’s scrutiny of the Bill.
Read the call for evidence.
Read the written submissions.
Summary of Written Submissions
The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) has produced the following summary of the written submissions received:
SPICe Summary of Written Submissions (176KB pdf)
Wednesday 18 December 2019
The Committee took evidence from:
> Plan International UK
> Engender
> Scottish Youth Parliament
> Unite the Union Scotland
> On the Ball
> Universities Scotland
> COSLA
> Hey Girls
> The Orkney Partnership (by video link)
> North Ayrshire Council
Papers for meeting 18 December 2019 (522KB pdf)
Official Report for meeting 18 December 2019
Wednesday 8 January 2020
The Committee took evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government.
Papers for meeting 8 January 2020 (408KB pdf)
Official Report for meeting 8 January 2020
Wednesday 15 January 2020
The Committee took evidence from Monica Lennon MSP, the Member in charge of the Bill.
Papers for meeting 15 January 2020 (266KB pdf)
Official Report for meeting 15 January 2020
Stage 2
Wednesday 28 October 2020
The Committee considered the Period Products (Scotland) Bill at Stage 2 (Day 1)
Daily Lists of amendments are available on the Period Products (Scotland) Bill page
Stage 3
The Stage 3 debate on the Bill took place on 24 November 2020.
Timetable
Visits and Events
Scottish Youth Parliament workshop: Sunday 27 October 2019
The Committee attended the Scottish Youth Parliament’s workshop on period products which was held at Dunfermline High School on Sunday 27 October 2019. The event was well attended and comprised three elements (1) A Flipchart discussion, (2) A Walking debate and (3) An informal round table discussion on a number of questions to inform the Committee’s scrutiny of the Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill. A summary note of the discussions held is published below:
PKAVS, Perth visit: Monday 13 January 2020
The Committee agreed that it wished its scrutiny of the Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Bill to be informed by those who had or were facing direct experience of the issues arising from period poverty or access to period products. This included individuals, organisations who were supporting people experiencing period poverty and those who are responsible for the delivery of current Scottish Government non-legislative measures.
Committee members Sarah Boyack (Deputy Convener), Graham Simpson and Alexander Stewart therefore held group discussions hosted by the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Services (PKAVS) at their offices in Methven Street, Perth. A summary note of the visit is published below:
Correspondence
2019 Correspondence
Following the closing date of the calls for evidence and in advance of the evidence sessions, Monica Lennon MSP wrote to the Convener with an update on developments in the Period Products (Free Provision)(Scotland) Bill:
2020 Correspondence
Monica lennon MSP wrote to the Convener on the Delegated Powers and Legislative Reform Committee's Report in relation to the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill.
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government wrote to the Convener regarding access to free period products in schools
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government wrote to the Convener with an update on the Scottish Governments approach to the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local government wrote to the Convener in advance of Stage 3 consideration of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill.
Report
The Committee's Stage 1 report was published on 5 February 2020: