Debate contribution: Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Debate contribution by Mrs Pam Cameron on 30 April 2024.

MLA: Mrs Pam Cameron
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 30 April 2024
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4487659

Text

I will speak as a DUP Member for South Antrim. I thank my party colleagues Deborah Erskine and Cheryl Brownlee for tabling the motion.
As the sponsor of the private Member's Bill that is now the Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, and as a previous chairperson of the all-party group on autism — a position I had the privilege of holding from 2016 until very recently — I will briefly remind the House of the key elements of the legislation, which were to see the development of a regional early intervention service; regional support and information services; an autism training strategy; data collection, to include the prevalence of autism in adults and children; the production of an annual budget report; and, vitally, an independent scrutiny mechanism in the form of an autism reviewer, who would ensure an autism strategy — with measurable targets and outcomes, I add — developed in consultation with the autism community. I am extremely disappointed, to put it mildly, that, two years on, the Department of Health has failed to fill the position of autism reviewer. This evening, much has been made of the countless hours that have been put into this work. I know that there is great passion from all Members across the Chamber on this particular subject. Certainly, the support that I had when moving the Bill through the process was phenomenal, including from the Health Committee. I did give praise where it was due, and mentioned Dominic Bradley in my initial remarks when moving the Bill, such has been the passion that this place has had for the autistic community. I want to put that on record. An incredible amount of work has gone in from everybody across the Chamber, in the Building and abroad. That passion is clear to be seen. The Autism (Amendment) Act is, as has been mentioned, the most comprehensive piece of autism legislation globally. I am very proud of the work that has been done in the all-party group, in particular, which has led on the introduction of not just one but two pieces of comprehensive legislation in support of our autistic friends, families and constituents. It is incredibly disheartening to see that the Autism (Amendment) Act has not been implemented. The autism reviewer is a vital part of that legislation. It is a crucial role in ensuring full implementation of the autism strategy, which was released in December 2023. To be clear: the reviewer role is not to be an advocate for autistic individuals. The role of the reviewer was included deliberately in the Autism (Amendment) Act to ensure accountability, implementation and ongoing evaluation of an autism strategy for Northern Ireland. Of course, that reviewer would also be able to commission independent research, which is vital, given the prevalence of autism in Northern Ireland. In my constituency of South Antrim and across Northern Ireland, families reach out to each and every one of us, as elected representatives, who are fearful, worried and anxious about the lack of available autism services. We need an autism strategy that is fit for purpose. We need that independent body to oversee the implementation of the 2022 autism legislation, and we need the autism reviewer in place. I understand that the recruitment process for the reviewer role has taken place in the past, before being paused. I also understand fully that financial pressures mean that we cannot do everything that we want to do as legislators in this place. However, I argue that implementing this autism legislation is not a choice to be made. There is a reason why we collectively chose the reviewer role as opposed to a commissioner-style role to oversee this piece of work; because we did not wish to see huge financial barriers in the way of the Minister or his Department when following through with and implementing that legislation.
I will, yes.
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank my colleague, the proposer of the motion, for her intervention. She is absolutely right. The reviewer role is part time. It has a salary in the region of £36,000 per year. It is not a huge amount of money. I am sure that it is not even a calculable percentage of the Health budget. We understand the pressures that Health Minister is under with his budget — that is for sure — but this is simply too important. These are preventative measures that we can take. Seeing the implementation of this legislation, its outworkings and the good work that could come from it, and the support mechanisms that should be in place, should, in turn, save us money down the line. I welcome the fact that a recruitment process is under way for a lead for adult autism services. Perhaps the Minister can advise whether that is at a regional or trust level. I specifically ask the Minister to update the House and, most importantly, the —
— autism community on the status of the recruitment of the autism reviewer. When will we see an individual take up that role? In closing, I thank in particular Autism NI, which continues to act as the secretariat. I know that the all-party group will continue to work under its guidance to press the Department of Health and scrutinise its action or inaction on the matter.

887 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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