SHORTAGE OF PUBLIC LAVATORIES

That this House expresses concern that public lavatory budgets have been cut by more than £26 million in the last five years; notes that this has seen public toilet numbers fall by 13 per cent nationally, with countryside areas disproportionately affected; recognises that this is particularly difficult for individuals who struggle with continence issues, inhibiting them from leaving the home and leading normal lives for fear of being unable to access a toilet, particularly mums who struggle with bladder control after child birth, people who have undergone surgery for prostate or bladder cancer, people with spinal injuries and people with an overactive bladder, a disease that affects more people than asthma or diabetes and leaves many people housebound; further notes that World Continence Week, 17-23 June 2019, is an excellent time to reaffirm the basic human need to access clean toilets; and supports The Urology Foundation’s call for greater access to public toilets and a reassessment of the current public lavatory budgets as supported by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Continence Care.