Title

HEALTH

Councils legally required to offer free period products

Scotland today became the first country in the world to protect in law the right to access free period products.

Scotland today became the first country in the world to protect in law the right to access free period products.

The Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act means councils will be legally required to make period products available free of charge to anyone who needs them.

Social justice secretary Shona Robison said: ‘Providing access to free period products is fundamental to equality and dignity, and removes the financial barriers to accessing them.

'This is more important than ever at a time when people are making difficult choices due to the cost of living crisis and we never want anyone to be in a position where they cannot access period products.'

The Act builds on the Period Products in Schools (Scotland) Regulations, which came into force in October 2020, placing a duty on local authorities to provide free products for pupils.

HEALTH

Perspectives on safeguarding

By Melanie Williams | 24 September 2026

National safeguarding reform matters, but preventing harm requires tackling poverty, housing and wider inequalities, says Melanie Williams.

HEALTH

Local councils' three-boss problem

By Blair McPherson | 17 September 2026

Blair McPherson looks at how chief executives maintain political neutrality and organisational clarity when councils have competing political leaders.

HEALTH

If Whitehall trusts councils, who do councils trust?

By Manjeet Gill | 09 September 2026

New York’s city government has more power than any English mayor. But its real advantage may be how it’s directly putting citizens to work shaping their own ...

HEALTH

Will Burnham's drive to build homes be successful?

By David Blackman | 28 July 2026

Like several Prime Ministers before him, Andy Burnham has pledged to build new homes. That will not happen without local authorities and they have been out o...

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->