Meeting of the Parliament 09 January 2024
As convener of the cross-party group on changing places toilets, I am delighted to participate in this evening’s debate. I thank Jeremy Balfour not just for securing the debate on his motion but for the work that he does more widely with the CPG and in Parliament to keep these issues at the forefront, as is vital.
The cross-party group was established to keep focus on an important issue. This evening, we have heard about how important the issue is to people who rely on changing places toilets, and to their families and carers. The group was largely inspired by the campaigners and by the people whose lived experience was the often patchy provision across Scotland.
What inspires me most when the cross-party group meets is our hearing not just about the experiences of many people in trying to attend hospital appointments or to get to the various supports that they need, but about the experiences of families with young children who have complex needs, who want, as all members would, to live spontaneously—for example, to go on holiday, take day trips or just go to the shops. The lack of facilities is a real challenge to living with the spontaneity that everyone deserves in their everyday life.
I pay tribute to some of the people in the cross-party group—in particular, to Angela Dulley, who has been a driving force; to PAMIS, via which secretariat support for Angela has been received; and to all the individuals and organisations who have come together and pushed issues forward.
I never thought, when I became a parliamentarian, that I would spend time looking at toilets and at potential sites for them, but that is what I now do. I must say that I have become something of a geek when it comes to what is required to make a toilet a bona fide changing places toilet. I have been delighted to see many community organisations and local authorities taking the active steps that are needed to put them in place—in particular, in Rouken Glen park in my constituency, which has allowed people to use the park more freely.
In addition, I recently visited Tyndrum—which was spoken about by Evelyn Tweed and is in her constituency—to meet Sarah Heward and the campaign team there, who are bringing together local businesses and community organisations to provide a vital facility. However, what was interesting about my visit to Tyndrum is the challenge that remains when it comes to levering in the funding that we have been speaking about—£10 million—for communities across Scotland to begin to plug gaps. Communities, local organisations, community councils and businesses are willing to put in funding themselves and to attract funding from other organisations. However, support from Government could make a crucial difference as enabling funding or as the last piece of funding to allow a project to be delivered for a community and people more widely who wish to use a facility. What is coming across loud and clear from the cross-party group and from campaigners across Scotland is that we need a sense of urgency about that money.
We have rehearsed some of the arguments that I am sure the minister will hear tomorrow when she comes to the cross-party group. There are concerns about the length of time that it will take to get the money out the door. I appreciate that such things can take time, but campaigners would like to know what will be the criteria for getting the money. How will it be given? Who will it be given to? How will it be applied for? When will it come? That information is crucial, because if we waste more time when we do not know those things and do not deliver the money, projects will stall and will become more expensive and, crucially, we will not move forward on the agenda.
The issue is key to the lives of many of our fellow Scots: it is about a basic human right and basic decency. It is time that we got the money out the door and into communities, where it is needed.
17:25