Can I thank the Member for her support, and for her party's support for this Bill? She's right that, despite the strategy introduced 10 years ago, we are still seeing a lack of services for people with autism in certain parts of Wales.

She raises the point about placing a duty on bodies, and this Bill will actually place a duty on local health boards and local authorities to ensure that services are actually delivered in all communities of Wales. It's also, I think, important to say that this Bill will make sure that there is a clear pathway to the diagnosis of autism, and I'm sure she's had examples, and she's had constituents contacting her, where parents have been unable to get a diagnosis for their children. In my own area, in Pembrokeshire, unfortunately, I know of parents whose children have waited up to seven years before a diagnosis. That is totally unacceptable, and that's why we need change, that's why we need to make sure that we see this Bill passing, because this Bill will actually underpin those particular services.

She raises the point about support—the wider support for this Bill. I am in no doubt whatsoever that there is wide support for this Bill. I've run two consultations now over the last 12 months. It's been absolutely clear from those consultations that there is overwhelming support for this Bill, and they do believe that this Bill is absolutely essential.

She mentioned the costs, and I think I referred to costs earlier on when I responded to the Cabinet Secretary for health. Yes, there's no getting away from the fact that legislation that improves services for people with autism spectrum disorder will cost money, but I believe that those costs are actually worth while for the individuals affected and that they will ultimately lead to long-term economic savings as well.

The final point she raised was whether there's a risk that giving autism a special legal status could actually risk other conditions being demeaned. Well, the Welsh Government has previously published an autism strategic action plan, and I'm not aware of any evidence that was raised that this has actually resulted in inequality as far as that action plan is concerned. 

The Autism Act 2009 is already in place in England, while in Northern Ireland the Autism Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 is in effect. Again, I'm not aware of evidence that either Act is known to have had a detrimental effect on provision for people with other neurodevelopmental disorders. The Bill also includes a safeguard against inadvertently diminishing relevant bodies' focus on addressing the needs of people with other neurodevelopmental disorders. It includes that the definition of autism spectrum disorder may include any other neurodevelopmental disorder prescribed by regulations by Welsh Ministers. So, Welsh Ministers in the future could actually do that.