<p>Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders</p>

Part of 2. 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:56 pm on 21 June 2016.

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Photo of Carwyn Jones Carwyn Jones Labour 1:56, 21 June 2016

The first challenge, of course, is for there to be a diagnosis, and that can take some time. Because autism, as the Member knows, exists on a spectrum, there are some elements of autism that are not easily diagnosed, and the diagnosis is the first step. He’s asked about those who’ve been diagnosed. Well, we seek to ensure, of course, consistency across Wales—that’s why we ring-fenced mental health spending to make sure that there were more services available. That’s why, of course, we’ve provided more money for child and adolescent mental health services, because the demand on CAMHS was substantial and we recognised that demand needed to be met. We expect all local health boards to deliver a consistent service to support not just those who are diagnosed with autism, but those, of course, who care for them as well.