THE SCOTTISH Government has been accused of “not taking seriously the needs of disabled people” after reversing £10m of funding towards more accessible toilets.
The government’s decision to reverse the funding that was originally pledged to build new Changing Places toilets across Scotland was raised yesterday in the Scottish Parliament.
Changing Places toilets are specially designed for any disabled people who cannot use standard accessible toilets and require additional equipment so that their personal needs are met safely and with dignity.
In 2021, the government pledged to invest £10m into Changing Places toilets and this was repeated by numerous ministers over the following years.
Jeremy Balfour MSP raised the issue yesterday afternoon, emphasising that these facilities are not a luxury, but a necessity.
Scottish Conservative Balfour began his speech by noting that the Edinburgh Futures Institute, the newly-built research and learning space on Lauriston Place, has no plans to install Changing Places toilets.
He stated that these toilets are “not a nice optional extra, they are an absolute necessity for many people to be able to participate in society”.
In a debate on Human Rights Day on Tuesday, Balfour had previously stated: “Ask any disability organisation about the current state of disability in Scotland and they will paint a dreary picture, that is supposing that they are still able to operate after their budgets have been slashed to nothing.
“As our amendment makes note of today, the Disability Equality Plan has been widely condemned as not worth the paper it’s written on.
“A process that began with good intentions has ended, in the words of inclusion Scotland, Glasgow Disability Alliance, and Disability Equality Scotland, ‘a collapse of all promises and ambition’.”
He went on to say: “I am asking the Scottish Government to confirm that they will support a Commissioner for Disability that will come to this Parliament early next year.”
It is understood that the £10m fund was proposed to be enacted in the financial years 2045/25 and 2025/26, but was reversed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance.
Shona Robinson MSP confirmed that the government would “seek to reprofile the commencement of the Changing Places toilet fund” as part of a £18m reduction to the mental health budget.
It is understood that the Scottish Government will continue with the preparatory phase of designing the funding programme but has no further information on a new launch date.
PAMIS (Promoting a More Inclusive Society), which supports those with profound and multiple learning disabilities, has stated that they “will continue to support the work of the Cross Party Group for Changing Places toilets and its members and carry on our engagement with other key stakeholders to ensure their needs are fully understood, considered and reflected in the funding criteria”.
They added: “Our team are already creating the necessary resources so that communities are well supported when the fund launches.”
Jeremy Balfour today said: “Disabled people rightly feel hard done by the Scottish Government.
“The minister could not provide any detail on how much money will be provided for Changing Places Toilets or when it will be distributed.
“We are tired of empty promises and warm words. The Scottish Government need to provide specific detail about the fund and follow through on their promises.”
Please see comment below from Jenny Miller, CEO of PAMIS:
“The Scottish Parliament debate yesterday highlighted the invaluable lessons we can learn from people with profound learning and multiple disabilities (PMLD) about the power of collaboration.
“This was evident from the passionate contributions about the importance of changing places toilet from all the cross party MSPs.
“It was reassuring to hear Marie Todd MSP’s commitment to delivering the £10 million fund for these essential facilities in Scotland and we eagerly await further updates early in the New Year.
“PAMIS remains dedicated to working with all political parties and communities to ensure that this transformative resource fund is effectively distributed and utilised across Scotland over the next two years.
“On behalf of our community, we express our gratitude to Jeremy Balfour MSP for raising this issue.
“It was inspiring to see how the Scottish Parliament can unite to address this fundamental human rights issue.
“However we need to remain vigilant in ensuring it does come to fruition and we follow the success of the English fund in delivering many more changing places toilets in areas of greatest need.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“It is simply not accurate to say that the Scottish Government has gone back on this pledge. The Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport confirmed to the Scottish Parliament only yesterday that funding would be provided for Changing Places Toilets over the last two years of the Parliament. We are continuing preparatory work to enable the launch of the Fund and we will confirm arrangements in the New Year.”
“Background: The Scottish Government’s draft budget was published on 4 December and is subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny and process.
“We expect to be able to provide details of the amount of funding we propose to provide for Changing Places Toilets in the New Year. This will be funded from the Scottish Government’s Mental Health budget.
“Work to develop the Fund includes consideration of the funding profile over the two years. Understanding the level of demand and the stage projects are at will inform this.”
