The Health Committee takes evidence on GP recruitment
NHS staff concerns are raised in topical questions
The government leads a debate on securing the interests of the country's rural economy following the Brexit vote
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon leads this afternoon's members debate on feminine hygiene products
Image source, Scottish ParliamentScottish Parliament
That's all from Holyrood Live on 27 September 2016.
Have a peaceful evening.
We're back tomorrow morning with the Education Committee looking at the Curriculum for Excellence.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon asks whether feminine hygiene is a health issue.
The minister says the government is interested in this because it transcends many portfolio remits.
She says no girl who needs access to products should feel embarrassed or stigmatised in school.
The minister says women in custody get feminine hygiene products for free.
Ms Campbell says there needs to be a better understanding of the lack of sanitary products for those facing domestic abuse and for those who are homeless.
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell praises Engender, Barnardos, the Trussell Trust and Scottish Women's Aid.
Ms Campbell says the Scottish government will publish a Fairer Scotland Action Plan later this year to address poverty.
She says women should not have to struggle to buy feminine hygiene products.
These are items that should never have been taxed and says the SNP manifesto called for the ending of this levy.
The minister says it is important the UK government makes good its promise and the shops pass on the saving.
Scottish Conservative MSP Alison Harris says feminine hygiene products are not a luxury, they are a necessity.
Ms Harris says the first over-the-counter feminine hygiene products became available in the Victorian era but cost was a factor even then and many women at that time were embarrassed to ask for them.
The Tory MSP says it is good that today this issue can be debated and discussed openly in parliament without embarrassment.
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SNP MSP Gail Ross welcomes the chance to try and dispel the stigma that surrounds periods and feminine hygiene products.
Ms Ross says sanitary products should be freely available for women in schools, shelters and prisons.
She says menstruation is rarely talked about and is too quickly forgotten about.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP Gail Ross
Ms Ross says women's hygiene products are still being taxed at 5% and there is rightly outrage about this.
She says the SNP support the abolition of VAT on sanitary products and she welcomes news the UK government is to do this.
Ms Ross concludes saying it is time to talk more freely about periods:
"This is nature and none of us would be here without it."
Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant says it is a big problem throughout Scotland.
Ms Grant says sometimes people pay "twice as much" for feminine hygiene products in a rural shop as they would in towns.
The Scottish Labour MSP says it is important that women are encouraged to change products regularly to avoid toxic shock.
Ms Grant says contraceptives are given free so period products should be available to people who cannot afford them.
Conservative MSP Annie Wells says she was pleased to see the UK government acting on the 'tampon tax'.
The Scottish Conservative equalities spokesperson says the zero rate of VAT on feminine hygiene products should be in place by next April.
Ms Wells backs Monica Lennon's motion as women and girls having to use cloths or rags or other unhygienic items when on their period.
If used for too long this increases the chances of developing toxic shock syndrome, says Ms Wells.
SNP MSP Gillian Martin says low income households will prioritise what little money they have on food, heat and electricity.
Ms Martin says it is an attainment issue with young girls who cannot afford feminine hygiene products missing days at school.
The SNP MSP says toxic shock can occur when women do not change their period products as often as they should.
She says not all women who cannot purchase feminine hygiene products are from low income homes and often these are withheld in abusive relationships.
A HM Treasury spokesman said: "The government strongly supports applying a zero rate of VAT to women's sanitary products and Finance Bill 2016 puts beyond a doubt that we are going to introduce zero-rating.
"We're going to make a success of Brexit, but clearly until we leave we will keep the rights and obligations of membership.
Image source, bbc"This means if the EU doesn't come forward with the measures they previously committed to them we will do so at the point of Brexit.
"In the meantime we continue to allocate the £15m raised annually from VAT on sanitary products to women's charities."
Ms Lennon concludes by calling for action to make phrases like "on the rag are banished to the history books".
Image source, Barnardo's ScotlandBarnardo's Scotland
Ms Lennon also highlights the work of Barnardo's Scotland, external and the Trussel Trust, external, who are also supporting the call for feminine hygiene products to be freely accessible to women.
Image source, The Trussel TrustThe Trussel Trust
Ms Lennon called on the Scottish government to carry out an assessment of the impact of the affordability of feminine hygiene products on the health of women and girls, during last weeks general questions.
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said she was determined to explore what can be done to ensure women across Scotland can afford sanitary products and tackle inequality.
Ms Lennon said charities have indicated access to feminine hygiene products for women in poverty can be difficult and asked about free products being provided
Ms Campbell said the government would meet with Engender, external to tackle the inequality.
Image source, SWAScottish Women's Aid
Scottish Women's Aid, external is the lead organisation in Scotland working towards the prevention of domestic abuse. We play a vital role campaigning and lobbying for effective responses to domestic abuse.
The charity was quoted in the Herald, external, supporting calls by Ms Lennon for feminine hygiene products to be freely accessible for all women who need them, particularly for the most vulnerable women in Scotland.
Image source, AFPThe city was to be the first in the US to introduce such a programme.
The measures were sponsored and promoted by city councillor Julissa Ferrares-Copeland, who says "periods have been stigmatised for too long".
She said she was happy to be known as the "period legislator".
Ms Lennon says she was filled with hope when New York announced it would provide feminine hygiene products for free.
The Labour MSP says she was disappointed that no consideration was being given by the Scottish government to women and girls in poverty and the expense of their periods.
She says she was also disappointed when it was suggested women and girls in poverty should go to food banks for their sanitary products.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon says "period poverty" is a very real problem which causes "shame and embarrassment".
Ms Lennon says poverty is wreaking havoc with women's bodies and refers to a woman who turned down tampons as she had not had a period in seven months due to malnourishment.
Image source, Scottish ParliamentMonica Lennon leads the debate on feminine hygiene products
The Scottish government motion as amended by Labour is agreed to with 83 MSPs for the it and 35 against.
Image source, Scottish Parliament
Image source, Scottish ParliamentThe Scottish Labour amendment is agreed to, with 83 MSPs voting for it and 35 against.
Image source, Scottish Parliament