Scotland becomes first country to give free sanitary products to low-income women Scotland is to lead the way in the fight against “period poverty” by giving more than 1,000 women and girls […]

Scotland is to lead the way in the fight against “period poverty” by giving more than 1,000 women and girls on low incomes free sanitary products for six months.

The pilot project, announced on Tuesday by Equalities Secretary Angela Constance, will focus on seven regeneration areas in Aberdeen.

“The cost of sanitary products are pricey at the best of times and can be exorbitant for many women” The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Dave Simmers, pilot project leader

The project, if taken forward, will make Scotland the first country in the world to provide free feminine sanitary products to low-income women and girls. A similar scheme was trialled in New York, but this is the first country-level plan of its kind.

Ministers intend to use the results of the pilot to inform national guidance on tackling the issue of period poverty, which can result in some women being unable to afford sanitary products.

Unlike many other medical products, women’s sanitary items are still subject to 5 per cent VAT in the UK, with the Government so far resisting calls to ditch the so-called “tampon tax”.

The Scottish pilot is being managed by Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE), a social enterprise based in Aberdeen, which will distribute the products through the FareShare surplus food network.

The initiative, backed by a grant of £42,500 from the Scottish Government, will eventually see the products distributed to three secondary schools, a local college and other charitable organisations.

‘Urgent’ action needed

“It is unacceptable that any woman or girl in Scotland should be unable to access sanitary products,” Ms Constance said.

“That is why, as part of our wider aims to eradicate poverty from our country, we are exploring how to make products freely available to low-income groups.

“The pilot in Aberdeen is a first step to help us understand the barriers women and girls face – and to help us develop a sensitive and dignified solution to making these products easily accessible to those who need them.”

Dave Simmers, chief executive of CFINE, told the Scotsman newspaper: “We’ve been aware of this problem for many years after hearing about difficulties from women at our food banks.

“It’s been quite clear the cost of sanitary products are pricey at the best of times and can be exorbitant for many women who don’t have cash to spare.”

He added that the “overwhelming reason” that women and others were suffering from poverty in Aberdeen was due to the Government’s welfare reforms, which had resulted in benefit sanctions and delays to payments.

Scottish Labour’s inequalities spokeswoman Monica Lennon has campaigned on the issue of period poverty and is planning to lodge a member’s bill at Holyrood which would give all women in Scotland free access to sanitary products.

“I’m pleased the campaign I have started has pushed SNP ministers to act, but the reality is that women and girls urgently need national action now,” the MSP for Central Scotland said.

“A pilot scheme is a welcome step in the right direction, but we must go much further to help women and girls across the country who are facing a monthly struggle to access the products they need.”