Tory MSP Alexander Stewart asks if the costs in the bill are realistic and ensure there will be a better system put in place.

Sheena Stewart from Universities Scotland replies at this stage we don't know if the funding will be adequate.

Celia Hodson says typically the use of reusable products like a menstrual cup is pretty low, as if a student picks one up that will do them for their whole course.

Ms Hodson points out people don't tend to go back once they have used a reusable product.

She points to a successful campaign addressing stigma where Martin Sheen talked about period products in the advert break on STV when Scotland were playing England at rugby.

Some girls can't afford sanitary pads when they have their period, so they end up missing school.

Now, girls in Malawi are being given menstrual cups, and it's made a huge difference.

A film by Gloria Achieng for People Fixing the World.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheena Stewart says in order for a scheme to be sustainable it must be affordable.

And if the scheme becomes statutory, it must be funded given the tight financial situation universities faces she adds.

The Cosla president agrees any statutory scheme must be fully funded, again due to tight council funds.

When teenager Sophie considered replacing her regular period product with a reusable menstrual cup, she was put off by the price.

But shortly afterwards they were offered for free at her school. After trying them out, she has ditched single-use tampons and pads for good.

Now a new campaign wants to boost use of reusable cups, pads and pants across Scotland by offering them for free.

Organisers hope it will cut waste from single-use tampons and pads.

Read more.

Celia Hodson of Hey Girls says her organisation have created best practice guidelines including period product education initiatives like Hey Boys and Pads for Dads.

Ms Hodson points out that employers can provide dignity for their staff by putting free products in place, which can improve productivity.

Cllr Alison Evison says a workplace expansion of access to free period products would be a positive way forward.

Gail Anderson explains products have been made available in a range of toilets in her region, including in men's bathrooms to ensure they can pick up products on behalf of someone else or for trans people.

As we promote the scheme, people will begin to understand this is a right she adds.

Cllr Evison welcomes more discussions being had on periods, but there is still some embarrassment around the topic which must be overcome.

Carolyn Hope explains North Ayrshire Council first tried free vending machines in schools but there was stigma around using them, so a decision was made to move products into cubicles.

Image source, Getty Images

From 'Auntie Flo' to 'time of the month', how many ways can you avoid saying the word 'period'?

Whether it's menstruation or menopause, talking about periods has often been a taboo subject.

But this year a period emoji - a red droplet symbol - was launched.

So it seems now is as good a time as any to speak to some of the women trying to end the shame and eradicate period poverty.

Read more.

Committee convener James Dornan asks about giving a bundle of products to pupils to see them through times when they are not in school.

Celia Hodson replies there has been a really good start and points to great practice in Stirling with Pedro the Period Panda in a full Mardi Gras suit.

"There is no shame or stigma around Pedro."

However there still remains bad practice, like having to speak to a teacher who will then unlock a cupboard to access products, she adds.

Cllr Evison says many councils are delivering schemes in consultation with schools and pupils themselves.

It is becoming clear that there are specific access needs for LGBT+ pupils or communities with cultural differences, she says, adding there needs to be further consideration of what universal access means.

She calls for locally designed services rather than national legislation being too prescriptive.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Sarah Boyack asks who is currently missing out on free period products.

Carolyn Hope says within North Ayrshire the people who are missing out are those who are not in education or are at home for whatever reason.

Some people can't travel to community centres or higher education buildings, she explains.

"There are huge group of people that I think we're missing."

Sheena Stewart of Universities Scotland says 85% of products available in universities have been taken by students.

She says the scheme has been welcome.

Gail Anderson from the Orkney Partnership explains products are available across the islands and delivery mechanisms are in place to suit the local area.

Thousands of women in the UK cannot afford to buy sanitary products.

Research by the charity Plan International suggests that one in 10 girls and women - aged between 14 and 21 - in the UK has been affected at some point.

A Scottish government pilot project is providing towels and tampons to those who need them through an Aberdeen food bank.

Two women tell the BBC's Scotland Editor Sarah Smith about their experiences.

Image source, bbc

Celia Hodson explains Hey Girls is a buy one give one menstrual product social enterprise.

Ms Hodson says their turnover comes from supplying the Scottish and Welsh governments with menstrual products.

Giving free menstrual products is not enough, she adds, calling for education to tackle stigma.

Ms Hodson tells the committee an app is being developed with the Scottish government to show where the nearest free menstrual products can be accessed.

The panelists all play a role in delivering the current scheme providing free period products.

Cllr Alison Evison from Cosla highlights each local authority delivers it differently in order to meet local needs, which is an important part of the scheme.

In some areas the scheme has been very effective and made a huge difference, she explains, but she says it is not sustainable and legislation would ensure it is permanent.

Carolyn Hope from North Ayrshire Council says there was a real need in her area for the scheme and funding for it has been welcome.

She also says the council is distributing products not just in schools, but also community centres and libraries to ensure it goes beyond young people.

Image source, bbc

The convener welcomes the second panel:

• Sheena Stewart from Universities Scotland, external
• Councillor Alison Evison from COSLA, external
• Celia Hodson of Hey Girls, external
• Gail Anderson from The Orkney Partnership, external
• Carolyn Hope from North Ayrshire Council, external

Erin Campbell says they can say with confidence that young people believe this should be a basic human right, citing a consultation of 70,000 young people.

The first evidence session draws to a close.

Eilidh Dickson highlights an increasing number of food banks are offering period products.

However to access a food bank a number of other conditions must be met, she adds, and points to asylum seekers and refugee women who have been unable to get period products.

Ms Lennon says the aim is to keep the scheme simple and she accepts points made about a voucher scheme not being preferable. She asks about other options.

Erin Slaven says people must be able to access products on their own terms and then get on with the rest of their day.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who is behind this bill, begins saying there has been fantastic progress in a short space of time.

However there are still unmet needs, Ms Lennon adds, asking if a universal scheme is necessary to address this.

Absolutely, replies Siobhan McCready and there is general consensus around the table on this.

Erin Slaven stresses the importance of accessibility and Nicola Bristow agrees, citing the possibility of using things like mobile libraries.

Erin Campbell also agrees, arguing there is huge room for improvement in terms of availability.

Green MSP Andy Wightman highlights having a supply of toilet paper and sanitary disposal bins is a legal obligation in workplaces.

He queries why sanitary products should not be included too.

Siobhan McCready of Unite says the trade union is asking for this and there has been a lot of progress.

She is unsure whether the Scottish Parliament has the power to make this statutory, however.

Mr Simpson says there seems to be agreement that the whole of section 3, which relates to vouchers, should be removed from the bill.

Eilidh Dickson there are a multitude of reasons people might want to have period products posted to them, saying some women do not want others to know they are menstruating.

Erin Campbell says the Scottish Youth Parliament is in favour of a delivery and collection scheme, for example for those with a disability or those who cannot afford public transport.

In terms of cost analysis, you have to factor in things like lost days of education or loss of productivity at work and life threatening illnesses due to the wrong product being used, says Ms Dickson.

"It's really hard to put a cost on what is essentially women's dignity."

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing replies the government has to come up with the money so a cost must be put on it.