Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans the government has to introduce legislation and investment to ensure better and more equitable access to decent public toilets.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognises the importance of clean, safe public toilets. In keeping with our commitment to funding simplification, we have no current plans to introduce a statutory duty or ringfenced funding relating to toilet provision. We believe that local authorities are best placed to assess and mange toilet provision as they best understand local needs.

At the 2025 Spending Review, we committed more than £5 billion in new grant funding over three years for essential local services such as toilets. In addition, we continue to provide 100% mandatory business rates relief for separately assessed public toilets, reducing ongoing costs for local authorities and supporting the continued operation of these vital facilities.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Department has assessed the potential impact on the NHS in winter 2026-27 of providing the shingles vaccination programme to adults aged 80 in April 2027; and whether it has considered launching the programme in autumn 2026 alongside the seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaigns.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

In November 2024, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provided advice on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme for adults aged 80 years old and over. The Government continues to carefully consider the JCVI’s advice.

We are taking key steps to ensure the National Health Service is prepared for the colder months. This winter, approximately half a million more people were vaccinated against flu compared to the previous season, though we know there is further to go next winter. We are undertaking a comprehensive ‘lessons learned’ review to help us identify what worked well, where persistent pressures remain, and what actions we need to prioritise going into next winter.

Found: membership Cat Smith (Labour; Lancaster and Wyre) (Chair) James Asser (Labour; West Ham and Beckton) Bambos Charalambous

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Nick Smith (Chair); Bambos Charalambous; Alberto Costa; Mary Glindon