MSPs are to look at whether period products should be available by right free of charge in Scotland.

Holyrood’s local government committee is seeking views on making the provision of period products a legal duty.

The committee is currently considering a bill introduced by Labour MSP Monica Lennon aimed at ending “period poverty” by providing free sanitary products, a move which prompted Scottish government funding.

After a rollout of a voluntary scheme in schools, colleges and universities last year, some railway stations, football stadiums and shopping centres have followed suit.

If passed, the Bill would see schools and colleges across Scotland provide period products free of charge, and ministers empowered to place the same duty on other public bodies, compensating them for the costs.

SNP committee convener James Dornan MSP said: “No one who needs period products should have to go without them because they can’t afford or access them.

“Free period products are supplied across schools, colleges and universities and under voluntary schemes by other public and community bodies.

“We want to know if this goes far enough and whether this should become a legal duty. We’d like to hear if the Bill will help tackle this issue, or if other approaches which would work better.”

The call for views runs until November 5.