Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides to transport operators on making toilets (a) accessible and (b) usable for people with a stoma.

The Department places accessible travel for disabled people among its highest priorities, as part of our broader commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity. We are determined to deliver a transport network that puts passengers at its heart-enabling disabled people to travel easily, confidently and with dignity, including those with bowel conditions which require a stoma.

On rail, the Department publishes accessibility standards the industry must comply with whenever they install, replace or renew station toilets. This includes accessible toilets. Where toilets are provided on trains it is a legal requirement for operators to comply with the relevant accessibility standards. Given the importance of toilets to passenger comfort, operators should consider appropriate provision when procuring or refurbishing trains.

In aviation, regulation and guidance already exists in relation to the provision of accessible toilets that cater for all kinds of disabilities, for both airports and airlines. In addition, there is a requirement for industry to account for the needs of disabled passengers in the design and refurbishment of airports and aircraft.

In local transport, the provision and design of bus and coach stations, including accessible toilets, is a matter for local authorities, who should be mindful of their duties under the Equality Act 2010 when making relevant decisions.

Disabled people should be able to make journeys with confidence that transport infrastructure will meet their needs. This is why we are introducing a requirement, through the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill, for local authorities to pay regard to new statutory guidance on the safety and accessibility of bus station and stop design when providing new or upgrading existing facilities.