PROVISION OF PUBLIC TOILETS

That this House recognises the provision of public toilets in communities as a vital public service; but notes that, lacking a statutory obligation for their provision, many local authorities are responding to vandalism and other factors by closing public toilets, which has a particularly serious impact on older people, people with disabilities and those with young families; and calls upon the Government to introduce the necessary legislation to place on local authorities a duty to maintain and improve the facilities they currently have and to work towards a steady increase in the provision of these important public amenities.