To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to issue guidance on safely reopening public toilets to enable people with (a) inflammatory bowel disease and (b) other hidden disabilities to feel comfortable leaving home as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered on
13 July 2020
Public hygiene is of the utmost importance, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, and enabling access to toilets safely is vital. Closed toilets may disproportionately impact certain groups who for health reasons rely on access to public toilets to leave their homes.
Government has made clear through COVID-19 guidance that public toilets, portable toilets and toilets inside premises should be kept open and carefully managed to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
The guidance outlines measures such as signs to promote good hygiene, providing suitable handwashing and hand drying facilities, and increasing frequency of cleaning facilities.
The Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government and the Minister for Environment recently wrote to local authorities urging them to reopen public toilets. The letter also highlighted the disproportionate impact closed toilets may have on certain groups who for health reasons rely on access to public toilets to be able to leave their homes.