Autism proposals to be unveiled

Mrs Gillan said nothing was being done to help people with autism in her area

by BBC News

Government plans to improve support for people with autism are expected to be outlined in Parliament later.

The announcement is due when the Autism Bill, introduced by the Tory MP Cheryl Gillan, is debated in the Commons.

It is thought that ministers are unlikely to give the bill the support it needs to become law.

But they are expected to back proposals to make councils and NHS bodies legally responsible to provide support for people with autism.

Huge boost

Mrs Gillan put forward the motion after she came top in the ballot allowing MPs to introduce private members' bills.

MPs who come top in the annual ballot get Parliamentary time to launch their bills, but they need government backing and cross-party support to succeed.

Mrs Gillan said she had chosen the subject because nothing was being done in the area and she wanted a worthwhile cause that would attract cross-party support.

Health Minister Phil Hope has told MPs to say the government is planning work that will achieve the same "outcomes" as the bill.

Mrs Gillan believes he will try to talk out or vote down the bill before it gets to the detailed committee stage.

In a letter to MPs, Mr Hope said people with autism and their families "often do not get the support they need and deserve and this must change".

But he said the government believed it was best done without legislation and was already planning work to achieve the same results.

This included a strategy consultation for adults with autism in April which would include "statutory guidance" - something campaigners say is new and would make local authorities legally accountable for providing support.

He also said they would look at collecting data on adults with autism and ministers would consult on statutory guidance which would mean disabled children's needs were "properly reflected" and services are "better tailored" to meet autistic children's needs.

Matthew Downie, from the National Autistic Society, said the reforms would be a huge boost to the two million people in the UK affected in some way by autism.

"We expect this to make a real difference," he said.

"Particularly for adults, there is a chronic lack of support and services."

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7914058.stm

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