EAST LANCASHIRE MPs are backing a campaign to get public toilets in Jobcentres after staff told a woman with a bladder problem to use conveniences in a nearby bus station or supermarket.

Rossendale and Darwen's Janet Anderson and Pendle's Gordon Prentice have acted after it was revealed that it was national policy not to provide toilet facilities for clients.

They are backing Bolton South East MP Dr Brian Iddon as he vows to make sure that job seekers in future are not left with legs crossed as they wait for interviews after an incident involving one of his constituents.

Mrs Anderson said: "This is ludicrous. There should be proper public toilets for people who have to wait a long time in Jobcentres. I shall be taking this up with Ministers. "There aren't even any toilets near Darwen Jobcentre. This must be changed. You shouldn't have to rely on the pity of staff."

Mr Prentice said: "Obviously you can't have everyone who comes in to look at an advert using the Jobcentre as a public toilet, but there should be proper facilities where people have to wait a long time for interviews or service."

A letter from the Employment Service to Dr Iddon says: "It has not been the policy of the Employment Service to provide toilets for clients in Jobcentres because of the high costs of provision and maintenance in over 1,000 buildings.

"Most job centres are located in town centres where public toilet provision is available.

"We would expect staff to be sympathetic to special cases if they are made aware of a difficulty and public toilets were not to hand."

An Employment Service spokesman said that disabled and special cases like small children and pregnant women could use staff toilets at the managers' discretion.

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