Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:54 pm on 3 July 2018.
Thank you, Jenny, very much. I also recognise the work of that organisation, Autistic Spectrum Connections Cymru, and others. The issue that you raised is that this needs to be a life-course approach—it's those wide areas outside of viewing it through a medical-only spectrum. It's very much that social model. This is a new way of working, and it's the way of working that has been put forward by stakeholders out there—people with learning disabilities, by carers and others who've said, 'This is the way that we actually need to take forward this programme of work, not putting things in silos.' It's very much the social model.
I think the comments you make on making sure that there's a wide variety of views will have been heard not only by me, but also by Gwenda Thomas as well and also Sophie Hinksman, the co-chair, in taking this forward. It's worth saying that there are now identified policy leads for each of the 26 recommendations within this. There's a commitment to work with representatives from the learning disability community on those 26 recommendations, along with their carers and with other stakeholders, to drive delivery.
The best ways that these ministerial advisory groups have worked is when they are tight and they are focused and they're targeted on the priorities and on the work streams, but they also reach out and engage wider as well. I'm sure that this is the way that Gwenda and Sophie will want to take forward this ministerial advisory group. The good thing, in closing, would be to say that it's at that stage where there is still opportunity for Assembly Members here to input their thoughts on the recommendations and how this group will evolve. Gwenda is now new in the chair, they'll be meeting shortly, they'll be up and running, but they will be listening as well on the way to take this forward.