Scotland Set to Be First Country to Provide Free Pads and Tampons

Scotland Set to Be First Country to Provide Free Pads and TamponsLONDON — Scotland is poised to become the first country to end “period poverty” by providing free sanitary products to women of all ages in the countryFree menstrual products are already available to students in high schools, colleges and universities in Scotland. And a bill passed by the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday will make pads and tampons free across the boardMonica Lennon, the lawmaker who submitted the draft proposal of the bill, said she was thrilled that it had attracted support across Scotland, including from civic groups and “individuals who have had their own lived experience of period poverty and know what it is like not to have access to products when they need them.Although the bill passed with 112 votes in favor, none against and one abstention, some lawmakers warned that the legislation faces a few hurdles before becoming law, though they were regarded as surmountable. One of those is a yearly cost that the government puts at about $31 million.