Question reference: S6W-09637
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 7 July 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 4 August 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what work it is undertaking to improve access within the Scottish Parliament to reusable period products and encourage people to make the switch from single-use period products.
Answer
The SPCB first agreed
to the provision of free period products at the Holyrood building at their
meeting on 3 May 2018. The SPCB is committed to providing an inclusive working
environment for all staff throughout all stages of their working lives. This
includes creating a culture where staff experiencing problematic periods or
menopausal symptoms get the support they need to manage their symptoms at work.
For a variety of reasons, including the menopause, people may not always
be prepared or have products to hand. The SPCB agreed that this should
not be a barrier to participation in the workplace. The provision of free
products supports the Parliament’s aim to support the mental and physical
health care needs of staff. This is in line with our value of respect.
The restocking of
products is arranged by the cleaning team, who are provided under a contract
managed by the Facilities Management office. The Facilities Management
team are currently working with the cleaning contractor to source a suitable,
sustainable brand for the provision of period products. These should be
available in the near future. Reusable products will not form part of this
offering.
A review of the
provision of period products is planned for this year. The different types of
products available, including reusable, will be considered in that review.