Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking on the proposal to exempt local authority owned public conveniences from business rates.

The Government recognises that local authority owned public toilets are valuable community amenities. However, primary legislation would be required to provide business rates relief for public toilets owned by principal local authorities and parish councils, as such bodies cannot currently have their rates bills reduced through reliefs. The Non-Domestic Rating (Lavatories) Bill, which would have resolved this matter, fell when Parliament was dissolved. The Government will consider reintroducing the measure in due course.