East Renfrewshire MP Kirsten Oswald has welcomed the decision by the Chancellor to remove VAT from period pants in his autumn statement.

The politician wrote to Jeremy Hunt ahead of the statement to demand the move, as well as raising the issue on several occasions and joining the ‘Say Pants to the Tax” campaign at Westminster.

In 2021, VAT was removed from most period products, such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups.

Classified as garments, period pants, however, have still been incurring a VAT rate of 20%.

Barrhead News:

Following the statement last week Ms Oswald told the Barrhead News: “At Westminster, I previously raised the issue of VAT on period pants, calling for period pants to be reclassified as a period product so that they would be exempt from VAT.

“The Chancellor would have not scrapped VAT on period pants if it were not for the fantastic campaigning of countless women’s groups and I am glad to have played my part in this campaign.

“Following the autumn budget statement, I have had positive feedback from many women regarding VAT being removed from period pants, particularly from young women who play sports."

In 2022, the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force, mandating local authorities and education providers to provide period products free of charge.

“Scotland has made great strides in tackling period poverty, becoming the first country in the world to make period products free for all,” she added.

“No woman should struggle to access appropriate sanitary products.”