Meeting of the Parliament 20 March 2019
I thank Pauline McNeill for bringing this important subject to the chamber and for her comprehensive contribution. I, too, will focus on a particular aspect of the debate: the accessibility of public toilets, which is mentioned in the motion.
As we have heard, Scotland has the highest rates of Crohn’s and colitis in the UK, and their incidence among young people has soared in recent decades. Despite the growing demand for public conveniences, we know—thanks to a story in The Press and Journal—that, on average, Scottish local authorities have closed about 45 per cent of their public toilets. That has deprived neighbourhoods and communities of a vital public service, but it particularly affects people who have conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. Crohn’s and Colitis UK recognises that access to toilets is of great concern to people who live with such conditions. Last year, it conducted a survey in which 75 per cent of people said that they or a family member with Crohn’s or colitis had had an accident in public because they could not reach a toilet in time. Just imagine that—it should not be happening.
The emotional impact of such conditions should not be underestimated. Having an accident in public can be profoundly embarrassing and hugely distressing. We must get to grips with the issue and ensure that people have the facilities that they need. We want to ensure that everyone is confident about getting out and about: if they cannot do so, they will avoid leaving home, which will result in isolation and loneliness.
The lack of suitable toilets on public transport must also be addressed urgently. My colleague John Finnie found that 22 per cent of ScotRail’s toilets failed an audit that was conducted in 2017. Even when toilets are provided on public transport, they are not of a suitable standard, which, again, can severely inhibit the mobility and freedom of people who have bowel conditions.
Monica Lennon mentioned the Planning (Scotland) Bill. In September 2018, I successfully lodged an amendment to that bill—in the Local Government and Communities Committee’s debate, in which Pauline McNeill and Monica Lennon were very supportive—to ensure that local development plans must include a statement of the planning authority’s policies on provision of public toilets, which could be part of a community access scheme. The City of Edinburgh Council has such a scheme, through which businesses are paid £500 a year to allow free access to their toilets. New developments could be encouraged to plan for their toilets to be accessible to the public in a similar manner.
I also commend the many save our loos campaigns that have sprouted up across the country, from the Highlands to more locally. The issue is a very important one.
I was contacted by a constituent, who has given me permission to refer to her email. She writes:
“I work in the health sector and I know that there are many people who plan their outings around where they know they can access public toilets. There is a growing elderly population, and a long list of health issues which affect people’s ability to control their bowel and bladder, as well as mobility issues”.
As she said, that can mean that people need more time to access facilities. However, she continues:
“in the past few months, I have witnessed two customers asking if there was a toilet they could use and both being told no—one a small food outlet with a sit-in facility, the other a large store on Princes Street.”
That is happening everywhere, and it is an issue that we have to address.
Monica Lennon is right in saying that it can be very uncomfortable to have to ask for a key or a code. Sanitation is a basic human right, and, if we are not providing that in 21st century Scotland, we need to have a good look at ourselves.
I realise that I have gone over my time, Presiding Officer. We must do all that we can to make sure that people with hidden disabilities do not feel stigmatised. I congratulate Crohn’s and Colitis UK on its not every disability is visible campaign, and I look forward to working with colleagues to address the issue further.
17:36