Capital funding for Changing Places toilets

Sharing your insights and experiences for a Parliamentary debate

Thursday 16 July

Brought to you by the Petitions Committee Team

On Thursday 16 July, Daniel Francis MP led a debate in Westminster Hall on Capital funding for Changing Places toilets.

To inform his debate, he asked to hear about your experiences.

"I thank the more than 100 people who have taken the time to answer the survey over the last week."
"I have read through the responses to the survey, and there was a lot of appreciation for Changing Places toilets and the benefits they bring to the lives of severely disabled people and their families. There are also, however, a number of horror stories of people’s experiences where facilities were not available or where they have not been maintained to a suitable standard."

Page contents:

Sharing survey responses

Read transcript

Read transcript

The Government's response

Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Nesil Caliskan MP, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government. She discussed a range of topics including:

  • The Government’s position that local authorities are best placed to make decisions on the provision of Changing Places toilets. 
  • The 2025 spending review, which committed more than £5 billion in new grant funding over three years for essential local services, including public toilets.

Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29

Factsheet: Non-Domestic Rates (Public Lavatories) Bill

  • The Government’s commitment to accessible transport which the Minister said was demonstrated by its spending on railways.

Policy paper: The Government’s roadmap to an accessible railway

The Minister stated her intention to raise the issue of provision of Changing Places toilets in hospitals with the Department for Health and Social Care.

She also signalled a willingness to engage with other relevant stakeholders in this area.

Watch or read her full speech for details.

See also a research briefing from the House of Commons Library: Capital funding for Changing Places toilets (July 2026)

What is a Backbench Business debate?

Backbench Business debates enable backbench MPs from any party to raise an issue, and receive a response from the government.  

They do not involve a vote on a particular action or decision.  

Instead, the aim is to:  

  • raise awareness of an issue, often as part of a wider campaign 
  • seek to influence government policy
  • put the views of backbench MPs, opposition parties, and the government on record.

For more on Backbench Business debates, see How Parliament Works.

Parliamentary resources

House of Commons Library

Relevant research:

Capital funding for Changing Places toilets (July 2026)

Parliamentary activity:

Adjournment debate: 'Changing Places Toilets' (Daniel Francis MP, 22 July 2025)

Photo credit: UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor

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