LESS than a fifth of the £500,000 budget set aside for the government’s free period product pilot scheme has so far been used, a freedom of information request has revealed.
And a significant amount of that budget was spent on marketing the much-criticised initiative – which was offered as an alternative to removing GST from period products.
Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, of Reform Jersey, said in response that the Social Security Minister “was not committed to the project enough”, arguing that there should be a minister with women’s issues as their portfolio to “take [the scheme] more seriously”.
According to the FoI, the government has spent £88,621 on the scheme since its inception in September 2022, despite committing £500,000 of funding in the 2023 Government Plan.
Costs for the scheme last year included £43,009 spent on period products, £19,230 on marketing, £6,200 on dispensers and containers and £1,350 on fitting the dispensers.
The FoI also revealed that decisions for a permanent scheme were tabled for ministers to discuss on 26 January, although that could change following this week’s no-confidence vote and an upcoming change in leadership.
Emily Smith, who has long been a critic of the scheme, commented on the findings in her JEP column on page 15 today, saying: “I do hope the government run a robust consultation period which allows Islanders to really have their say.
“Since the scheme was launched last year, I am yet to see a range of products in any of the listed toilets and, in most cases, there is nothing there at all.
“Despite Jersey still not removing GST on period products, England is making huge strides to address period poverty and this year it was announced that period pants would also now be exempt from VAT, whereas I’m still being taxed for the privilege of buying a tampon to stem the flow of my period.”
Deputy Feltham previously criticised the fact that the government spent more than £13,000 on publicity for the free period product scheme, with £25,000 on the products themselves.
Responding to the new information, she said: “This shows that the Social Security Minister wasn’t committed to the project enough, and could have utilised the available funding in a much better way to ensure that the pilot scheme was more successful.
“This scheme could have been done quite simply and straightforwardly, and the money was there, so it is a shame it hasn’t be used effectively.
“I hope that the Social Security Minister will take this more seriously and make the scheme better. And ideally move toward removing GST from period products.”
Members narrowly agreed last year to reverse a previous decision to make menstrual products exempt from GST.
But Deputy Feltham said if that prospect came before the Assembly again, Members could vote differently, having seen the “ineffectiveness” of the scheme which was proposed as an alternative.
She added that the female politicians in Reform Jersey would back the idea of a Women’s Minister with a clear mandate and portfolio.
“We definitely need people to take the lead on that area of portfolio, and if that’s not creating a specific ministerial role, then someone needs to take responsibility for it.
“That voice around the table, which has that mandate, would take it a bit more seriously.”
Social Security Minister Elaine Millar said: “We were due to discuss the pilot scheme next week and to look at next steps, but that meeting has of course now been delayed.”
