Autism is a range of conditions, as we know, that doesn't get discussed or debated sufficiently—one of the reasons why there remains a lack of understanding about its impact, so it's always good to have an opportunity like this to discuss this condition. There's still a stigma attached to it and we've all got a responsibility to address that. The lack of understanding can, as we know, result in fear of a diagnosis of autism or perhaps people not offering support because they perhaps don't know what support might be required. It was interesting what Jenny Rathbone just had to say about that test for autism where potential sufferers are shown the faces and look at the mouths, I think you said, more than the eyes. Fascinating research is being done into that area. 

General ignorance about autism is strange when you consider how prevalent autism is amongst the UK population. As we've heard, people with autism require additional help, not solely because of their condition, but because of the failings in the way that society responds to people with that condition. What a tragedy, and an avoidable one, and one that we can do a lot to addresses. According to the National Autistic Society, 70 per cent of autistic children have been suspended from school at one point or another, around half of those have been suspended persistently on three or more occasions, and only 16 per cent of autistic adults are in full-time paid employment, and a similar proportion are in some other kind of paid work. Should autism itself necessarily be a barrier to work? Well of course it shouldn't. We've really got to move beyond some of the old-fashioned ideas about autism. 

More than one in three adults with autism experience severe mental health challenges, but, again, this isn't necessarily directly related to autism, but the support, or lack of support, we as a society offer to those people. At this point I would like to mention the invaluable work of groups such as Mencap Cymru in my area, in Chepstow, an organisation that's been running for 40 years and has had great success in dealing with young people with a range of difficulties, of learning difficulties, and also a number of people with severe autism. There are many other groups out there that are working equally hard in all of our constituencies and they really are making a real difference on the ground, where it matters.

There's a lot more that we can do to support people with autism, so let's look at some of the things that we can do. As Helen Mary Jones and others rightly said, I, like many people across Wales, remain disappointed and frustrated that we missed an opportunity to embed the rights of autistic people through a bespoke autism Act. I know the Welsh Government had its reasons for saying there was another route to take instead of an Act, but I am one of those who believe that an Act would help to embed those rights in the statute book. And I hope Members will, perhaps, have an opportunity in future to revive plans for a dedicated autism Bill for Wales.

But there are other things that we can do to support people with autism, as Paul Davies said. We need progress on the Government's action plan for people with ASD. We need to have the introduction of some clearer outcome measures and more effective monitoring.

In closing, Dirprwy Lywydd, in the run-up to 2021, I do hope that all parties here would commit to protecting funding for this vital service. I think if we all come together on this issue, we really can make the progress we need to see.