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

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department provides to local authorities for the provision of accessible public toilet facilities.

Section 87 of the Public Health Act 1936 gives local authorities the discretionary power to provide public toilets. How this power is exercised is a decision for local authorities; who know what is best for their area.

The provision of public toilets is one of the basic services that help create good quality public places and they are an important amenity for many people. That is why we are introducing powers through the Local Government Finance Bill to allow local authorities to grant discretionary business rate relief on public toilets that they own and maintain.

My Department has also worked with the Changing Places Campaign to promote the provision of changing places toilets across the UK, for severely disabled people and those with profound and multiple learning disabilities.