The Government has published guidance to ensure public toilets can be opened safely. This guidance is reviewed regularly.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4075", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Christopher Pincher"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tamworth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Christopher Pincher"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-15T16:07:15.773Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will update the guidance on the opening of toilets run by (a) local authorities, (b) hospitality businesses, and (c) motorway service station as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4799", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Charlotte Nichols"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Warrington North"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Charlotte Nichols"} ], "uin" : "86184"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1228013", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1228013/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
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. To support this, Government, with input from Public Health England, has produced guidance principles on the additional hygiene precautions that should be considered to effectively manage public toilet provision and help everyone maintain good hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suggested measures include using signs to promote good hand hygiene, providing suitable handwashing and hand drying facilities, and increasing the frequency of cleaning of facilities.<\/p>
These principles were included in The Safer Public Places - Urban Centres and Green Spaces<\/em> guidance on 26 June for the owners and operators of public spaces as well as other COVID-19 Secure guidance such as Working Safely during Coronavirus<\/em>. These are published on gov.uk. In addition, on 28 June, I wrote jointly with the Environment Minister to local authorities setting out the Government\u2019s position that public toilets should be open wherever possible. This letter included advice on COVID-19 secure measures.<\/p> As the situation is constantly evolving, we will keep guidance under review to ensure it provides the information needed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4877", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Greenhalgh"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-08-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-08-10T11:00:47.173Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last updated the guidance to local authorities and other providers of public toilets on additional hygiene precautions required during the COVID-19 pandemic; what organisations they consulted before drafting that guidance; and where that guidance is publicly available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4230", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Randerson"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Randerson"}
], "uin" : "HL7386"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1227273", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1227273/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 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. This includes, for example, guidance on Safer Public Places - Urban Centres and Green Spaces<\/em> and Working safely during Coronavirus. <\/em><\/p> To help everyone maintain good hygiene, consideration should be given to configuration of toilets facilities to ensure they are kept clean, with social distancing achieved as far as possible and with best practice handwashing followed.<\/p> Suggested measures to help manage public toilets during Covid-19 include using signs to promote good hand hygiene, providing suitable handwashing and hand drying facilities, and increasing the frequency of cleaning facilities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Simon Clarke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-01T12:46:57.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that public toilets are reopening safely and hygienically, in the context of the covid-19 outbreak.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/411", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Huddersfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Barry Sheerman"}
], "uin" : "78519"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226940", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226940/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " MHCLG does not collect this data.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Simon Clarke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-01T12:37:37.28Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which local authorities (a) have and (b) have not reopened public toilets as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"}
], "uin" : "77550"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226942", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226942/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We have allocated £4.3 billion to local authorities so they can address the pressures they are facing in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including £3.7 billion in unringfenced grant and the £600m Infection Control Fund. This unringfenced funding can be used to address local priorities, including reopening public toilets in compliance with covid-secure guidelines.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Simon Clarke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-01T12:38:19.873Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding his Department has allocated to local authorities to reopen public toilets in compliance with covid-secure guidelines.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"}
], "uin" : "77551"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226944", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226944/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has made clear through Covid-19 guidance, which is updated regularly, 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. This includes, for example, guidance on Safer Public Places - Urban Centres and Green Spaces<\/em> and Working safely during Coronavirus. <\/em><\/p> To help everyone maintain good hygiene, consideration should be given to configuration of toilets facilities to ensure they are kept clean, with social distancing achieved as far as possible and with best practice handwashing followed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Simon Clarke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-07T14:28:30.623Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to issue updated guidance to local authorities on the reopening of public toilets as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"}
], "uin" : "77552"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226945", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1226945/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Government has made clear through Covid-19 guidance, which is updated regularly, 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.<\/p> To help everyone maintain good hygiene, consideration should be given to configuration of toilets facilities to ensure they are kept clean, with social distancing achieved as far as possible and with best practice handwashing followed.<\/p> The impacts of measures on the disabled and other groups needs to be kept under consideration. Local authorities are subject to the Equality Act and the Public Sector Equality duty will apply to decisions relating to these measures.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Simon Clarke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-09-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-09-01T12:39:01.46Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to issue updated guidance to local authorities on the reopening of disabled toilets as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1591", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Farron"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Westmorland and Lonsdale"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Farron"}
], "uin" : "77553"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1221450", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1221450/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " 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. Public hygiene is of the utmost importance, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, and enabling access to toilets safely is vital.<\/p> 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.<\/p> The guidance outlines measures such as signs to promote good hygiene, providing suitable handwashing and hand drying facilities, and increasing frequency of cleaning facilities.<\/p> The Environment Minister and I recently wrote to local authorities with details on the guidance for reopening public toilets.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Simon Clarke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-07-08T12:07:58.127Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what scientific advice the Government has issued to local authorities on (a) the risk of public toilets spreading covid-19 and (a) opening public toilets as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"}
], "uin" : "66859"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1203283", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1203283/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We strongly encourage public toilets to be open wherever possible. We have published guidance to help operators ensure facilities are safe where they are open including increasing cleaning of touch points.<\/p>
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.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4655", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Simon Clarke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-07-13T16:35:05.443Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-07-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Lavatories: Coronavirus"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "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.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4794", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Darren Henry"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Broxtowe"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Darren Henry"}
], "uin" : "70519"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1219150", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1219150/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "