Friday Volume 494 19 June 2009 No. 95 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Friday 19 June 2009 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2009 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; Tel: 0044 (0) 208876344; e-mail: [email protected] 539 19 JUNE 2009 540 House of Commons Autism Bill Consideration of Bill, as amended in the Public Bill Committee. Friday 19 June 2009 Third Reading The House met at half-past Nine o’clock 9.45 am Mrs. Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) (Con): PRAYERS I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. The Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means Mr. Deputy Speaker, I cannot tell you how delighted took the Chair as Deputy Speaker (Standing Order I am to move Third Reading. Reaching this stage is a No. 3). landmark, and our having done so is due not only to me, as the Member who had the privilege of promoting Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): I beg to the Bill, but to the House of Commons at its very best. move, That the House sit in private. This has truly been a cross-party effort involving those on the Conservative, Government and Liberal Democrat Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 163). Benches, and I am delighted that Members of Parliament The House divided: Ayes 0, Noes 45. have come together to try to introduce a Bill which we Division No. 154] [9.34 am hope will make a great difference to so many people’s lives throughout our country. AYES The hon. Member for Portsmouth, North (Sarah McCarthy-Fry) is in her place, although she is no longer Tellers for the Ayes: Mr. Tim Boswell Mike Penning and responsible for part of the subject area that the Bill covers. I am grateful for the attention to detail that she showed, and for her undertakings in her previous role, NOES to which I shall refer later. She has rapidly moved Austin, Mr. Ian Kirkbride, Miss Julie through the ranks and ended up at the Treasury through Baldry, Tony Lammy, rh Mr. David sad circumstances, but I know that her competence will Baron, Mr. John Mackay, rh Mr. Andrew be put to good use in that Department and I am sure Borrow, Mr. David S. Mann, John that hon. Members of all parties wish her well, not least Bottomley, Peter Mates, rh Mr. Michael because of the detailed attention she gave the Bill. Brooke, Annette McCarthy-Fry, Sarah Browne, Mr. Jeremy McIntosh, Miss Anne Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead) (Con): Before my Browning, Angela Milton, Anne hon. Friend praises more Members from across the Bryant, Chris Mole, Chris House, may I pay tribute to her work in taking the Bill Burns, Mr. Simon Murrison, Dr. Andrew Chope, Mr. Christopher through its passage—something which is, as she said, a Newmark, Mr. Brooks Coaker, Mr. Vernon tribute to the House? She has followed on from the Osborne, Mr. George Cormack, Sir Patrick fantastic work of my hon. Friend the Member for Crabb, Mr. Stephen Rosindell, Andrew Tiverton and Honiton (Angela Browning), who previously Cunningham, Mr. Jim Ruddock, Joan promoted such a measure. The work of my hon. Friend Fallon, Mr. Michael Shaw, Jonathan the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) Fitzpatrick, Jim Simmonds, Mark in bringing proceedings to an excellent conclusion should Gidley, Sandra Skinner, Mr. Dennis be acknowledged on the record. Gillan, Mrs. Cheryl Swayne, Mr. Desmond Goodman, Mr. Paul Thomas, Mr. Gareth Mrs. Gillan: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his Harper, Mr. Mark Ward, Claire generous remarks, but it really has been a team effort. Howarth, David Jones, Mr. Kevan Tellers for the Noes: Mr. Tim Boswell (Daventry) (Con): The congratulations Keeley, Barbara Mr. Dave Watts and expressed to my hon. Friend, as well as to my hon. Keen, Ann Kerry McCarthy Friend the Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Angela Browning) and to Government Front Benchers, are Question accordingly negatived. well deserved. However, will she reflect on the fact that, although we can legislate here—that is what we do—introducing mere legislation, even with all-party and Government support, to issue guidance is insufficient in itself? Implementation is critical, especially in respect of training and promoting awareness in a community beyond those who directly care for people on the autism spectrum. That is hugely important—perhaps she will comment on it—because unless people understand what is involved, they will act insensitively and many of the advantages that we are trying to secure today will be lost. Mrs. Gillan: My hon. Friend is right. I refer him to clause 2(5)(f), which specifically covers “the training of staff who provide relevant services to adults with such conditions” 541 Autism Bill19 JUNE 2009 Autism Bill 542 [Mrs. Gillan] same report to which she has referred suggests that 90 per cent. of parents worry greatly about how their in the guidance that the Secretary of State issues. That children will survive and cope in society when they leave provision is included for the reasons that my hon. school or university, particularly given the statistic, Friend outlined. which she rightly pointed out, that only 15 per cent. of I pay great tribute to the Minister of State, Department adults with autism are in full-time work. of Health, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope). He is not with us today because he has a vital duty to Mrs. Gillan: That is absolutely correct: the figure is perform in his constituency, so I am delighted that the 15 per cent. However, as my hon. Friend knows, and as Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member I know from meeting many adults with autism, their for Brentford and Isleworth (Ann Keen), is here. I am potential is far greater than that. With a small amount sure that she will do an excellent job today. The Minister of assistance and the correct support, we can allow of State did not start off entirely supporting the Bill, them to fulfil their potential and live their lives. That is but, my goodness, he has got behind it. He has done a what we should be doing in this country. I hope that the first-class job in his current ministerial position, which I Bill, if it becomes an Act, will give this and future am glad he continues to hold, because I hope that he Governments a framework to concentrate on what needs will supervise the legislation, if we are fortunate enough to be provided to that very deserving group of people. to get it through the House today and through the other place in due course. Angela Browning (Tiverton and Honiton) (Con): The Bill has the potential to deliver the crucial Following on from that point, it is true that parents improvements needed for the approximately 500,000 worry about their children’s education and ability to live people with autism in the UK, who have been neglected independently, as they go through the various developments for so long. It is the culmination of a great deal of work and cycles of life. However, as a parent, I think—I hope by many people. The effort that has gone into the Bill is that I would speak for many parents—that the biggest a testament not only to the determination and dedication fear is: “What happens when I die?” That has to be of many of my colleagues in the House, on a cross-party addressed. basis, but to a large number of people outside. I have paid tribute to those people in previous speeches, so Mrs. Gillan: That is probably the most moving part perhaps they will forgive me if I do not name them of my encounters with families with children who have today, but the National Autistic Society and all the autism. The terrible fear of someone who has a child other charities that have been involved have done a with a disability of any sort is about what will happen to first-class job on behalf of the group that they represent. that child when they are no longer around to give it the sustenance that it needs. That is why I hope that this I would like also to thank the Members who supported framework legislation will provide a platform from which the Bill and those who served on the Public Bill Committee, Governments can ensure that local authorities and other which shows what we can achieve when we work together. services are structured in such a way as to give greater Lastly, before I get to the substance of the Bill, I would reassurance to people in that situation. like again to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton and Honiton, who has been a champion on Liz Blackman (Erewash) (Lab): Does the hon. Lady the issue. The Bill builds on her earlier ten-minute Bill not also agree that it is people with high-functioning and—to sound just a small sour note—resulted also autism who are the most hidden from services and that from the Government’s failure to respond or to fulfil their parents have a great deal more to worry about? If their promises on autism in the past. To be truthful, the someone has classic autism, it is blatantly obvious.