3. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services: The Autistic Spectrum Disorder Strategic Action Plan

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:35 pm on 19 June 2018.

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Photo of Neil McEvoy Neil McEvoy Independent 3:35, 19 June 2018

There have been so many good questions raised today, some good points made. I want to focus on two things, really. Generally, this Government makes policies sound good—the lovely buzz words—but the reality at the sharp end and the front line is somewhat different. I wanted to focus firstly on integrated autism services and referrals. Because, in Rhondda Cynon Taf, there have been none; in Powys, there have been none; in Cardiff, 10; and, in Gwent, 130. So, the first thing is: how do you explain the disparity in that, and what can be done to improve matters? Secondly, the autism-aware businesses, which sounds really good on paper—it sounds good listening to it in the Chamber, but I wondered if you'd outline to everybody in the Chamber, and the public, exactly what you have to do to become an autism-aware business.