Holyrood committee fails to back Period Products Bill
The member's bill that would place a duty on the Scottish Government to ensure universally available free period products has failed to win the support of the Scottish Parliament committee scrutinising the measure.
In their stage 1 report, MSPs on the Local Government & Communities Committee say that while they are unanimous in their support of the intentions underpinning the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, brought to the Parliament by Labour MSP Monica Lennon, more clarity on both costs and what such a scheme would look like is required before legislation should be contemplated.
A majority on the committee have raised concerns over the financing of the scheme, highlighting the large disparity between the costs to implement a universal scheme presented in the bill’s financial memorandum and the Scottish Government’s own estimates.
In scrutinising the bill, the committee took evidence on targeted measures already put in place by the Government to provide free period products in schools, universities and some local authority buildings, evaluation of which is ongoing. The majority agree that there is a lack of clarity on whether a universal scheme was needed, what the total cost may be and how much it might grow. They were also concerned about the significant work which would be required by ministers to devise and develop a universal scheme.
The report comments: "The majority of the committee are... concerned about legislation that would impose a duty on, as yet unidentified, public bodies which would have a cost but would not compel the Scottish Government to fund it, should it choose not to. The bill provides that it would be up to ministers to devise and develop a scheme but this lack of clarity has the consequence that the Scottish Government would have significant work to undertake in order to deliver the bill's principal aims. This would be a challenge... the majority of the committee consider that the bill may be subject to significant amendment at stage 2 which, assuming such amendments could be taken, may leave only the principle of universality contained within s 1 intact. For these reasons, a majority of the committee, whilst commending the intent behind the bill, does not support the general principles."
The committee voted by five to two, Andy Wightman (Green) and Sarah Boyack (Labour) dissenting from the views of the SNP and Conservative members.
Committee convener James Dornan MSP commented: "A difficulty in affording and accessing period products affects people across Scotland every day, and the committee is aware of the need to reduce stigma around menstruation.
"We applaud Monica Lennon for all her efforts in bringing this bill before the Scottish Parliament and helping to raise awareness of these issues.
"The committee also commends the work undertaken by local authorities, the third sector, and grassroots groups to promote and deliver existing schemes, and welcomes the positive response to the Government’s targeted provision of free products.
"However, the committee has concerns about the bill as drafted, including a lack of clarity over how much a universal scheme would cost, what a scheme would look like and the work required by ministers to implement it."
He added: "This is clearly a serious and important issue and the Scottish Government should ensure that current schemes are accessible to everyone who needs them. But for the majority of the committee it is clear that the legislation before us is not the answer."