MPs debate Push for Action demands

MPs this week held a debate in Westminster on the forthcoming revised adult autism strategy, in one of the Push for Action campaign’s last opportunities to influence its content ahead of publication on World Autism Awareness Day on the 2 April.

The debate was tabled by Cheryl Gillan, the MP who brought forward the Bill that became the Autism Act in 2009. Mrs Gillan used the opportunity to highlight areas of success since the Act was passed but emphasised that support for adults with autism is still patchy across England and much more needs to be done to address this.

Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism, Robert Buckland MP, spoke about the need for better awareness of autism in communities, and emphasised that local businesses, leisure companies and public service providers had a duty to ensure that that people with autism are not isolated, but treated as full and active members of their local communities. Nine other MPs also spoke up in the debate, some directly quoting from emails NAS supporters had sent them as part of the Push for Action campaign.

Push for Action has put forward a variety of proposals to strengthen the revised strategy that were raised in the debate; these included:

• the introduction of an innovation fund, to support the development of new local services
• an autism awareness programme, to help local groups and volunteers build a community that is more welcoming for people with autism
• improvements in training across all public services, but particularly for GPs, community care assessors, and front line staff in the welfare and criminal justice systems
• a more transparent way for progress of the strategy to be mapped, and for local people to hold their council to account

Responding on behalf of the Government, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb paid tribute to the NAS for its 'inspired leadership' in ensuring that the strategy translates into greater difference for people's lives. He said that the Department of Health are considering the range of proposals set out by The NAS, and agreed to meet with the MPs and the NAS to discuss these and the strategy in more detail. 

A transcript of the debate can be found here:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/176/ and it can also be viewed on Parliament TV here http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=14926

Cheryl Gillan MP speaks up for Push for Action

Push for Action champion, Cheryl Gillan MP, has published two articles recently championing the campaign.

The articles appear on the Conservative Home website as well as Politics Home, two sites frequented by MPs and parliamentarians. They therefore represent a really useful ways to bring our issues to the politicians who need to understand them.

To read the articles, follow this link for the Conservative Home article and this one for Politics Home.

Parliamentary debate secured for Wednesday

Cheryl Gillan MP, whose private members bill led to the Autism Act being passed in 2009, has secured a debate about the autism strategy review in the House of Commons this Wednesday.

The 1.5 hour debate, which Care Minister Norman Lamb will respond to, acts as the Push for Action campaign's last major opportunity to influence the content of the revised strategy before its publication.

We need plenty of MPs to come and speak up in the debate so that the Minister is clear about what an important issue this is for the electorate.

You can do your bit by asking your MP to speak in the debate on your behalf. Follow this link and submit our simple form to do so.

To watch the debate, which will take place on Wednesday morning at 9.30, follow this link.