Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:42 pm on 18 October 2016.
On your first point, of course, community safety in Wales is of paramount importance and the Cabinet Secretary will respond and he will update as appropriate on the current arrangements in terms of Safer Communities, which, of course, have served us well in terms of local partnerships. You did hear extensively from the First Minister this afternoon about our approach and our commitment and indeed the ways in which we—. In fact, you heard also from the Minister for health and social services about the way in which she is working with the National Autistic Society, working with actually a date in the diary again to look at their proposals and to look at where we are delivering in terms of a range of services to support people, families, children and young people and adults with autism. I think, again, it might be helpful if I just, again, read an extract from the First Minister’s Plenary statement on the legislative programme on 28 June. In fact, that was in response to a question that was put to the First Minister by Simon Thomas, and he said:
‘To start with autism, this is something, of course, that is being considered at present by the liaison committee’— we heard about that this afternoon—
‘in terms of seeing in what way we can develop legislation on autism, and particularly whether we can ensure that the action plan can be strengthened through being placed on a statutory basis ultimately. That is being dealt with in that process.’
So, I think we have, this afternoon, responded to those points and I’m sure, across this Chamber, are meeting, as we do, with our constituents and with those local groups who are raising these issues.