To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether guidelines are included in building regulations on the design of grab rails in disabled access toilets. (139778)

Yes, Approved Document M (Access to and use of buildings) includes in Section 5 (Sanitary accommodation in buildings other than dwellings) detailed guidance on the design of grab rails in accessible toilets for both wheelchair using and ambulant disabled people. The guidance is based on the recommendations of British Standard BS 8300 ‘Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people—Code of Practice’. This standard was based on research and user trials funded by this Department’s predecessors.