Scotland becomes first country to make period products free
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
Scotland becomes first country to make period products free

World+Biz

TBS Report 
25 November, 2020, 11:20 am
Last modified: 25 November, 2020, 11:24 am

Related News

  • China's Xi to snub COP26, UK PM Johnson told
  • Emilia Clarke’s debut comic book superhero gets power from period
  • Let’s make menstruation a less painful experience
  • Court action seeks probe of Trump’s Scottish golf course buys
  • UK government to target money in Scotland to counter independence drive

Scotland becomes first country to make period products free

The Scottish Parliament voted unanimously in favor of the Period Products bill on Tuesday

TBS Report 
25 November, 2020, 11:20 am
Last modified: 25 November, 2020, 11:24 am
Photo/BBC
Photo/BBC

Scotland has become the first country, allowing free and universal access to menstrual products, including tampons and pads, in public facilities, a landmark victory for the global movement against period poverty.

The Scottish Parliament voted unanimously in favor of the Period Products bill on Tuesday, reports BBC.

The move came months after lawmakers had initially signaled their support.

The bill was introduced by Labour MSP Monica Lennon. 

She has been campaigning to end period poverty since 2016.

It means period products will be available now to access in public buildings including schools and universities across Scotland.

According to the new rules, it will be up to local authorities and education providers to ensure the products are available free of charge.

What is period poverty?

Period poverty is when those on low incomes can't afford, or access, suitable period products.

With average periods lasting about five days, it can cost up to £8 a month for tampons and pads, and some women struggle to afford the cost.

How big a problem is it?

A survey of more than 2,000 people by Young Scot found that about one in four respondents at school, college or university in Scotland had struggled to access period products.

Meanwhile, about 10% of girls in the UK have been unable to afford period products; 15% have struggled to afford them; and 19% have changed to a less suitable product due to cost, according to research.

As well as period poverty, the bill tackles period stigma. Researchers say this is particularly an issue for young girls. It found that 71% of 14-21 year olds felt embarrassed buying period products.

The impact on education is another area the bill aims to tackle - with researchers finding almost half of girls surveyed have missed school because of their period.

What difference will the bill make?

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill puts a legal duty on local authorities to ensure anyone who needs period products can obtain them for free.

It will be for the country's 32 councils to decide what practical arrangements are put in place, but they must give "anyone who needs them" access to different types of period products "reasonably easily" and with "reasonable dignity".

A consultation document proposed modelling the scheme on the system health boards already operate for distributing free condoms.

In the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area, for example, anyone who wants free condoms can ask for them in locations including GP surgeries, pharmacies and colleges and universities - or alternatively they can fill out a request on a card so they do not have to ask verbally.

However, concerns were raised about a similar scheme for period products, so that provision has been removed from the bill.

The scheme will need to be operational within two years of the legislation becoming law.

The bill says ministers can in the future place a duty on other "specified public service bodies" to provide free period products.

It also enshrines in law the free provision of period products in schools, colleges and universities.

This is already happening - Scotland was the first country in the world to make period products available free in schools, colleges and universities - but the bill, if passed, will protect it.

The Scottish government earlier decided to back the bill in principle despite previously opposing it because of "significant and very real concerns" about how it would work.

The government proposed significant amendments to the bill as it proceeded through parliament, meaning it is now backed by all of the parties at Holyrood.
 

Offbeat / Top News

menstruation / period / scotland

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Illustration: TBS
    How Putin revived Nato
  • Are banks only gainers from dollar crisis?
    Are banks only gainers from dollar crisis?
  • Urban areas are already emerging as the new poverty frontier. Photo: Mumit M/TBS
    TCB truck sales apparently draw to a close

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: AFP
    India's April wholesale price inflation accelerates to 15.08%
  • A demonstrator holding the Sri Lankan national flag is silhouetted during the protest against Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, near the Presidential Secretariat, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 15, 2022. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar/File Photo
    Sri Lanka parliament reconvenes, PM warns of critical shortages
  • Workers pass by a sales person as they walk towards the City of London financial district as they cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London, Britain, September 8, 2021. REUTERS
    UK unemployment falls to lowest since 1974
  • Despite much fear, Russia’s exclusion from SWIFT is yet to have any severe ramifications for the Western money market. PHOTO: REUTERS
    Dollar knocked from 20-year high; yuan slide pauses
  • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Downing Street briefing room, following a bilateral meeting at Downing Street, in London, Britain, April 8, 2022. Ben Stansall/Pool via REUTERS
    UK PM Johnson says legislative 'insurance' needed on N Ireland
  • Photo: AFP
    Macklowe art collection becomes most expensive ever sold at auction

Related News

  • China's Xi to snub COP26, UK PM Johnson told
  • Emilia Clarke’s debut comic book superhero gets power from period
  • Let’s make menstruation a less painful experience
  • Court action seeks probe of Trump’s Scottish golf course buys
  • UK government to target money in Scotland to counter independence drive

Features

Despite Bangladesh having about 24,000 km of waterways, only a few hundred kilometres are covered by commercial launch services. Photo: Saad Abdullah

Utilising waterways: When common home-goers show the way

51m | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

How Putin revived Nato

2h | Panorama
The reception is a volumetric box-shaped room that has two glass walls on both the front and back ends and the other two walls are adorned with interior plants, wood and aluminium screens. Photo: Noor-A-Alam

The United House: Living and working inside nature

2h | Habitat
Pcycle team members at a waste management orientation event. Photo: Courtesy

Pcycle: Turning waste from bins into beautiful crafts

3h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Can your coworker be your closest friend?

Can your coworker be your closest friend?

3h | Videos
The mystery behind Pyramid

The mystery behind Pyramid

4h | Videos
Finland, Sweden decide to join NATO

Finland, Sweden decide to join NATO

15h | Videos
Where you can swim for Tk5

Where you can swim for Tk5

17h | Videos

Most Read

1
Representative Photo: Pixabay.
Bangladesh

Microplastics found in 5 local sugar brands

2
Mushfiq Mobarak. Photo: Noor-A-Alam
Panorama

Meet the Yale professor who anchors his research in Bangladesh and scales up interventions globally

3
Impact of falling taka against US dollar
Banking

Taka losing more value as global currency market volatility persists

4
Govt tightens belt to relieve reserve
Economy

Govt tightens belt to relieve reserve

5
Union Capital asked to return Tk100cr FDR to BATBC 
Banking

Union Capital asked to return Tk100cr FDR to BATBC 

6
How Bangladesh can achieve edible oil self-sufficiency with local alternatives
Bazaar

How Bangladesh can achieve edible oil self-sufficiency with local alternatives

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab