Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2020 [Draft]
25 Feb 2020 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I thank the cabinet secretary for the tone of her speech so far. It is important that we continue to work together. North Ayrshire Council launched free provision in schools a year before the Government scheme rolled out nationally and, in oral evidence to the committee, the council official talked about the savings that had been made because they had become more efficient and there was less bureaucracy. That gave me hope that we can continue to learn and improve. Does the cabinet secretary acknowledge that?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
Our next item of business is a stage 1 debate on motion S5M-20756, in the name of Monica Lennon, on the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill. I c...
Monica Lennon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
This debate is possible only because we are standing tall on the shoulders of previous generations of feminists, trade unionists and equality campaigners. Be...
James Dornan (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Local Government and Communities Committee. Today’s debate reflects the findings of the committee’s scrutiny, which we...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
James Dornan
SNP
I am just about to close. I will take an intervention if I have the time.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
I can give you the time.
Neil Findlay
Lab
How did James Dornan feel when Murdo Fraser’s member’s bill was included in its entirety, without having been through any consultation, in the legislation th...
James Dornan
SNP
I am speaking as convener of the Local Government and Communities Committee. Given that we are talking about the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government (Aileen Campbell)
SNP
I am immensely proud that Scotland is a world leader on providing access to period products. Thanks to this Government’s actions, without waiting for legisla...
Monica Lennon
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for the tone of her speech so far. It is important that we continue to work together. North Ayrshire Council launched free prov...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
There is extra time available if you need it, cabinet secretary.
Aileen Campbell
SNP
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I know about the fantastic work that is being done in North Ayrshire. I visited Ardrossan academy to see some of th...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I associate myself with the words of Aileen Campbell. I agree with every word—well, most of what she said; not quite everything. I congratulate Monica Lenn...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
I know that, across the country, people have been writing to members of the Scottish Parliament—they have certainly contacted me—to say that they want what h...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Those in the public gallery should not show appreciation or otherwise in any of the proceedings of the Parliament, please.
Graham Simpson
Con
Nobody in the Parliament disagrees with what Monica Lennon is trying to achieve. The question is whether the bill is the right approach. The committee asked ...
Monica Lennon
Lab
Will the member give way?
Graham Simpson
Con
No. I am coming to an important bit of my speech. When the three of us committee members visited Perth, I had my eyes opened. I asked what people were payin...
Graham Simpson
Con
I will take an intervention if I can get the time back.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I can give you the time back.
Monica Lennon
Lab
I thank Graham Simpson for his contributions and for his work on the committee. I wonder whether he agrees that we have to be careful that, in asking questio...
Graham Simpson
Con
One thing that should come out of this debate is that people should not be embarrassed about talking about those issues. If women have a particular medical c...
Graham Simpson
Con
No. I am almost finished. As we head to stage 2, I say to Monica Lennon that the committee has a huge job to do. We must work with her. If we are going to ...
Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Scotland is on course to introduce the world’s most comprehensive legislation on free period products. That is thanks to Monica Lennon and her supporters, me...
James Dornan
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Pauline McNeill
Lab
Not yet. The Tories are giving very mixed signals as to whether they support the general principles of the bill, and I was astonished at some of the argumen...
Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP)
SNP
I am not on the committee, but I have read the bill and I absolutely agree with what the member says about period poverty. However, does the member agree tha...
Pauline McNeill
Lab
That was quite a long intervention. I agree with the member that there are issues with the registration schemes. However, this is a stage 1 debate in which ...
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I commend Monica Lennon for bringing forward the bill. She has been campaigning on this topic since her arrival in Parliament and has worked hard to get it t...
James Dornan
SNP
Will the member give way?