Autism Bill: Government Must Take Urgent Action, UK

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 28 Feb 2009 - 4:00 PDT

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The UK Autism Foundation has urged the government to take decisive action on autism. An Autism Bill was debated in the House of Commons in Westminster on Friday 27th February, it now moves on to the next stage, it cleared the first hurdle by 131 votes to 25. Cheryl Gillan MP's bill called for an end to the postcode lottery to public services. The UKAF supported the bill along with 15 UK charities.

Ivan Corea of the UK Autism Foundation wrote to Ministers Phil Hope and Sarah McCarthy Fry, urging the government to provide new funding streams for education, health,specialist speech therapy and respite care. Lee Scott MP who has campaigned tirelessly for autism in the House of Commons had earlier called for ring fenced funding for autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

Lee Scott MP, Angela Browning MP and Cheryl Gillan MP have all brought in Autism Bills in the House of Commons. Autism campaigners are calling for urgent action and support for parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

Ivan Corea said: 'It is heart breaking to see banks being bailed out to the tune of billions of pounds and taxpayers money going towards the bonus schemes and pensions of bankers and yet parents and carers have to fight and stuggle for a few hours of repite care or speech therapy. The deepening recession is bringing even more suffering and parents, carers and the Autism Community need urgent help. We call on the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to provide new funding and end the postcode lottery to public services - once and for all.'

UK Autism Foundation
Woodford Business Centre
113-115 George Lane
South Woodford
London E18 1AB
United Kingdom
http://www.ukautismfoundation.org

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