SNP MSP Sandra White asks about encouraging more women into agriculture.

Women working in Scotland's agriculture sector are being excluded by "outdated attitudes and behaviours", a Scottish government panel has concluded.

The Women in Agriculture Taskforce said a gender bias meant work undertaken by women was being undervalued, downplayed or simply unseen.

Taskforce co-chair Joyce Campbell said the report shone light into some "very dark corners of Scottish agriculture."

It recommends that key organisations undertake unconscious bias training.

Image source, Bothy Bible

See all the questions here., external

Community Safety Minister Ash Denham says the government is taking a number of steps to deal with overcrowding in prisons.

People in prison are hidden from society, she says.

Scotland has a long tradition of monitoring how prisoners are treated, and the system introduced in 2015 provides oversight and allows data to be captured nationally, explains the minister.

She says independent prison monitors have been central to the success of this system by making announced and unannounced visits to prisons.

According to HMIPS..., external

"It is an essential role within the Scottish justice system as it helps ensure prisoners’ human rights are upheld and that life in prison contributes to their rehabilitation.

"Independent prison monitors will provide an independent viewpoint on the humane treatment and conditions for prisoners in all prisons across Scotland and will conduct investigations either as a result of a prisoner raising an issue or from observations that are made during prison visits."

Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart starts the debate by paying tribute to previous prison visiting committees which came before independent prison monitors.

The current scheme was launched 2015, and Mr Stewart says it is vital to the running of prisons and help toward rehabilitation.

Overcrowding, drugs and violence are all issues which monitors are aware of and deal with he says.

He continues, saying they observe and report their findings, pointing out good practice as well as bad practice within institutions.

Mr Stewart concludes his opening statement, saying that IPMs allow us to have confidence in the transparency of what occurs in prisons, aiding with human rights.

Image source, Getty Images

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart is leading a debate on independent prison monitors.

Here is his motion...

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Image source, Getty Images

That's the end of this morning's committee session.

Coming up...

Tory MSP Alexander Stewart leads a lunchtime member's debate on the role of independent prison monitors from 1.15pm, to be followed by rural economy and transport portfolio questions.

Then the Scottish Tories have the floor for the afternoon, choosing to focus their debate time on subject choice and senior phase education.

Finally, Green MSP John Finnie will highlight World Wetlands Day in the evening member's debate.

Deputy convener Sarah Boyack wants to know how education and knowledge about reusable products would be disseminated, citing the climate crisis.

Fellow Labour MSP Monica Lennon says it would be up to ministers to find a way forward, highlighting reusable products are not for everyone.

A universal scheme could be a real driver in encouraging the uptake of reusable products, she says.

But people in poverty deserve some choice on products they use too, she adds.

The Scottish government has put uptake higher and that is how they have arrived at high costs, Monica Lennon tells the committee.

None of us can say what uptake would definitely be, but the government "hasn't really shown their homework" on how they've arrived at their figures, she suggests.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson says: "Nobody has a clue what the total figure would be."

He expresses concern about passing legislation that would not compel the government to fund it, and says it could potentially be a "massive" bill.

My starting point is whether we support the general principles of this bill which would give people a right to access free products, replies Ms Lennon.

If we support the general principle then we can get to fine tuning with amendments at stage 2, she insists.

Conservative MSP Alexander Stewart wants to know if the bill would jeopardise the current system that the Scottish government has in place.

Monica Lennon doesn't agree that legislation is premature or unnecessary.

Nothing in this bill would challenge the current set up, says Ms Lennon, adding it would "lock in" current actions.

Mr Stewart questions whether a targeted approach might be better, saying universal access could lead to a lowering of the quality of products provided.

Choice is important, admits Ms Lennon, but says it is up to the government how the scheme is implemented.

Image source, Getty Images

Legislation has been officially lodged at the Scottish Parliament to ensure free access to sanitary products for all women.

Labour MSP Monica Lennon said her member's bill aimed to make Scotland a "world leader" in tackling period poverty.

It would make it a statutory requirement for schools, colleges and universities to provide such items.

Read more.

Mr Wightman asks about the meaning of the phrase "who needs to use" in the proposal legislation.

Does this mean those who need products due to biology or who need them due to cost issues, he asks.

Ms Lennon says everyone who menstruates should have access.

What recourse would a citizen have to ensure that right is upheld, the Green MSP asks.

I don't anticipate a public body refusing to administer the scheme, the Labour MSP replies.

Claudia Bennett from the Office of the Solicitor to the Scottish Parliament says it was not felt necessary to include an appeal mechanism in the bill because it was felt that failure to comply could be dealt with by administrative laws.

Green MSP Andy Wightman asks if there are any examples from around the world about a statutory right to free products.

Ms Lennon says as far as she is aware, Scotland would be the first country to do so.

She says in New York there is some legislation on providing products in schools and homeless shelters, and there is some legislation in Kenya, though it does not go as far.

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.

We're trying to encourage culture change, says Labour MSP Monica Lennon.

Convener James Dornan says organisations, like GP surgeries, could provide the products without legislation.

Ms Lennon says she wants to stop any scheme being open to abuse and claims a law would stop that happening.

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing pushes Ms Lennon on funding, asking for an estimated annual cost.

There is broad agreement across parliament, says the Labour MSP, claiming the costs will cover need.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell discussed the bill with the committee last week, where she set out why the government would not back the proposed legislation.

Ms Campbell said that universal provision of period products could cost in excess of £24m.

She said free period products were available through secondary and primary schools across Scotland and in all 19 universities and 26 colleges.

She added that the Scottish government also provided funding of £2.8m to "hundreds of community groups to provide free products.

"We do believe we are beginning to see a culture change and there is a risk that introducing legislation now would encourage people to meet only minimum standard, compared to what we are seeing in the public, private and third sectors, where organisations are going above and beyond."

British women spend £18,000 on their periods over their lifetime, but why is it a subject we still find difficult to talk about?

Asked about the cost of products, Ms Lennon says all women are different and will require different amounts, while quality and dignity are also important.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson tells the committee about a woman who was spending upwards of £50 a month on period products because of a medical condition.

Should she be able to get products on prescription, he asks.

Ms Lennon agrees this is worthy of further discussion, but also warns about medicalising menstruation and talking about it as an illness rather than an issue of wellbeing.

She expresses concern about this increasing stigma.