6. 5. Welsh Conservatives Debate: Autism

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:50 pm on 12 October 2016.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 5:50, 12 October 2016

The reality is that not every organisation is asking for specific legislation. This is one that crosses a number of barriers. I have already said: social services and well-being, yes, let’s get the health boards working with social service departments. But what about our education system? It doesn’t encompass the breadth of public services that it needs to.

I just want to take the few remaining moments to talk about an excellent organisation in my own constituency, which is supporting people not just in Clwyd West, but across the whole of north Wales: Createasmile. It was one of these organisations that was set up in exactly the circumstances that I described earlier. It was set up by Eddie and Sharon Bateman, two local people in Kinmel Bay who had difficulties accessing services for their children. As a result of that charity now, there are dozens of people who have been able to get the support that they needed. But it shouldn’t take that organisation having to give that support. Our system in Wales, our education system, our health system and, indeed, our local authorities need to work together more consistently. We need to get those diagnoses much, much earlier, and we need to make sure that we give these young people in particular, as well as older people with autism, but young people in particular the best start and opportunity in life. They’re not getting that at the moment, and that’s why we need to legislate.