The Leader of the House and Chief Whip Jane Hutt AM has been criticised for failing to respond to concerns raised by the autism community when North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood called for a Statement on the matter in the Assembly Chamber yesterday.
Mr Isherwood told the senior Welsh Government figure that people with autism and their families want clarification following news that the National Autistic Spectrum Disorder Co-ordinator will be leaving her post. However Jane Hutt failed to provide a Statement.
Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood, said
“I understand that the National Autistic Spectrum Disorder - although I prefer the term ‘Condition’; I hope the Welsh Government will start using that - Co-ordinator is leaving her post. Could I therefore call for a Statement? Because there’s uncertainty in the community over what the intention is in terms of a replacement, or how this might impact on roll-out of the new national integrated autism service.”
Speaking after Jane Hutt failed to respond, Mr Isherwood said; “I am deeply concerned that this senior member of the Welsh Government failed to say a single word about an issue which is so important to so many in her response. Although Paul Davies’ proposed Autism Bill is needed to give autism a statutory identity in Wales and to impose duties on Health Boards and Councils, it is also essential that this new autism service is rolled out.”