MSE News: Scotland aims to defeat 'period poverty' with free sanitary products scheme

Former_MSE_Steve_1

A scheme to give free sanitary products to women on low incomes has been launched in Scotland...

Read the full story:
'Scotland aims to defeat 'period poverty' with free sanitary products scheme'

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One-Eye

Women’s sanitary items are still subject to 5% VAT in the UK, with the Government so far resisting calls to ditch the so-called “tampon tax”.

Not strictly true - the UK Government is committed to a zero-rate of VAT on women’s sanitary products. It is EU law that currently prevents the tax being reduced below 5% (it was reduced from 17.5% to 5% in 2000). The "tampon tax" will remain until EU law is changed, or the country leaves the EU – whichever comes first.

System

One-Eye wrote: »

Not strictly true - the UK Government is committed to a zero-rate of VAT on women’s sanitary products. It is EU law that currently prevents the tax being reduced below 5% (it was reduced from 17.5% to 5% in 2000). The "tampon tax" will remain until EU law is changed, or the country leaves the EU – whichever comes first.

True but the UK Government could have negotiated it's exemption.
The Commission nor other member states are hardly going to argue.

Paul_Herring

The government is entirely unsuited to be handing out tampons - for starters, some women would prefer pads.

Secondly, £42,000 is going to be spent on this, for a questionable (as in amount) £12,000 benefit.

Women (and men with vaginas of course) who are in need should be given the money to purchase them themselves.

Covered more in depth here: https://capx.co/its-madness-for-government-to-hand-out-tampons/

Apollonia

Paul_Herring wrote: »

The government is entirely unsuited to be handing out tampons - for starters, some women would prefer pads.

Secondly, £42,000 is going to be spent on this, for a questionable (as in amount) £12,000 benefit.

Women (and men with vaginas of course) who are in need should be given the money to purchase them themselves.

Covered more in depth here: https://capx.co/its-madness-for-government-to-hand-out-tampons/

Did you actually read the linked article in the first post? The government will not be 'handing out tampons'. It says quite clearly:

Eligible women are issued with a so-called 'S-Card' they can then show at their local pharmacy, supermarket or doctor to get the products for free.

asset2004

Another hap hazard ill-thought scheme of the Scottish Government, just like the baby boxes that's now £100,000s over budget and was introduced without any input from healthcare professionals.
I despair of this, just another waste of money.

Paul_Herring

Apollonia wrote: »

Did you actually read the linked article in the first post? The government will not be 'handing out tampons'. It says quite clearly:

Did you read the article where £42,000 is being wasted to give a(n at beat) £12,000 benefit?