Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act do?
The Act introduces universal access to free period products for anyone who needs them.
It does this by
Why was legislation necessary?
Period products are not a luxury, they are essential items, yet one in eight young people have accessed free period products because they couldn’t afford them, according to a Young Scot survey.
In Scotland we started to address this problem by making tampons, pads and reusables as common as toilet paper in schools, colleges and universities, but there was no guarantee that these initiatives would continue long term or after future elections. Legislation was necessary to lock-in the good policy schemes and to make access to free period products mainstream.
What do you think was the most important factor that got the issue on the agenda?
Personal stories helped secure a parliamentary debate in September 2016; Monica was inspired by the people who had the courage to tell her they had used kitchen paper, rags and socks to manage their periods. That was the first time the Scottish Parliament had ever debated anything remotely linked to periods and it was a breakthrough moment.
South Lanarkshire College deciding to replace their pay-to-use vending machines with free period products was an early milestone and North Ayrshire Council under the leadership of Scottish Labour Councillor Joe Cullinane was instrumental in getting young people involved. When they introduced free period products in all their secondary schools, the Scottish government followed quickly with a national commitment.
Who supported the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill to become law?
Backers of the Bill include The Poverty Alliance, Girlguiding Scotland, Scottish Women’s Convention, the STUC and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health Scotland.
The growing list of organisations and supporters spanned the political divide. At Stage One the Bill was supported by Members of the Scottish Parliament from every political party.
Ninety six per cent of respondents to the public consultation supported free universal access to period products - periods are hard enough without means testing.
How will it promote the use of re-usable/sustainable products?
Access to reusable products, including menstrual cups, featured prominently in the consultation responses to the Member’s Bill and in the engagement events and meetings with interested groups and individuals across Scotland.
It is the intention that any scheme established should have choice and dignity at its core.
Switching to reusable products has the potential to make a considerable impact on our environment, but it is also true these products do not suit everyone. It is therefore hoped that any universal scheme would improve awareness to reusable products and make it easier for people to access them, if that is right for them.
Monica believes that reusable products, plastic-free products and sustainability to be important components for consideration in any future scheme.
What were the stages of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill and when was it passed?
This was a lengthy process with various stages and a need to secure support at each of those stages.
The Bill was introduced on 23 April 2019.
The public consultation on the proposal for a member’s bill began on 11 August 2017.
The general principles of the Bill were agreed by Parliament on Tuesday 25 February 2020 (Stage 1).
The Bill returned to the Local Government and Communities Committee (Stage 2) on the 28 October 2020.
Stage 3 was the final part of the process, and returned to Parliament on 24 November 2020 for a final vote.
It passed by a vote of 121 for, 0 against and 0 abstentions.
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill became an Act on 12 January 2021.
The Period Products Act came in to force on Monday 15 August 2022.
Useful links:
Period Products Act comes into force, 15 August 2022
Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022
Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021: guidance – September 2021
The Act introduces universal access to free period products for anyone who needs them.
It does this by
- Requiring local authorities to make free period products freely available to anyone who needs them, which will be delivered through statutory guidance provided by Scottish Ministers.
- Making it a legal requirement for free period products to be made available in schools, colleges and universities. Thanks to public campaigning, these initiatives have already been rolled out across Scotland and the Act will guarantee this continues.
Why was legislation necessary?
Period products are not a luxury, they are essential items, yet one in eight young people have accessed free period products because they couldn’t afford them, according to a Young Scot survey.
In Scotland we started to address this problem by making tampons, pads and reusables as common as toilet paper in schools, colleges and universities, but there was no guarantee that these initiatives would continue long term or after future elections. Legislation was necessary to lock-in the good policy schemes and to make access to free period products mainstream.
What do you think was the most important factor that got the issue on the agenda?
Personal stories helped secure a parliamentary debate in September 2016; Monica was inspired by the people who had the courage to tell her they had used kitchen paper, rags and socks to manage their periods. That was the first time the Scottish Parliament had ever debated anything remotely linked to periods and it was a breakthrough moment.
South Lanarkshire College deciding to replace their pay-to-use vending machines with free period products was an early milestone and North Ayrshire Council under the leadership of Scottish Labour Councillor Joe Cullinane was instrumental in getting young people involved. When they introduced free period products in all their secondary schools, the Scottish government followed quickly with a national commitment.
Who supported the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill to become law?
Backers of the Bill include The Poverty Alliance, Girlguiding Scotland, Scottish Women’s Convention, the STUC and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health Scotland.
The growing list of organisations and supporters spanned the political divide. At Stage One the Bill was supported by Members of the Scottish Parliament from every political party.
Ninety six per cent of respondents to the public consultation supported free universal access to period products - periods are hard enough without means testing.
How will it promote the use of re-usable/sustainable products?
Access to reusable products, including menstrual cups, featured prominently in the consultation responses to the Member’s Bill and in the engagement events and meetings with interested groups and individuals across Scotland.
It is the intention that any scheme established should have choice and dignity at its core.
Switching to reusable products has the potential to make a considerable impact on our environment, but it is also true these products do not suit everyone. It is therefore hoped that any universal scheme would improve awareness to reusable products and make it easier for people to access them, if that is right for them.
Monica believes that reusable products, plastic-free products and sustainability to be important components for consideration in any future scheme.
What were the stages of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill and when was it passed?
This was a lengthy process with various stages and a need to secure support at each of those stages.
The Bill was introduced on 23 April 2019.
The public consultation on the proposal for a member’s bill began on 11 August 2017.
The general principles of the Bill were agreed by Parliament on Tuesday 25 February 2020 (Stage 1).
The Bill returned to the Local Government and Communities Committee (Stage 2) on the 28 October 2020.
Stage 3 was the final part of the process, and returned to Parliament on 24 November 2020 for a final vote.
It passed by a vote of 121 for, 0 against and 0 abstentions.
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill became an Act on 12 January 2021.
The Period Products Act came in to force on Monday 15 August 2022.
Useful links:
Period Products Act comes into force, 15 August 2022
Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021
The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022
Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021: guidance – September 2021