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Autism Bill

These are very complex cases. In order to support people who fall foul of the criminal justice system—I have been involved in several of these cases—we need expert witnesses whom we can call to present the case for that person. I have raised on the Floor of the House on more than one occasion my concern about people with Asperger's syndrome who fall foul of the mental health services when they are inappropriately treated, and that can also involve the criminal justice system. We are talking about support for people who need very specialised expertise, which is available to them in this country. Many people with Asperger's are highly intelligent but have difficulty coping with everyday life. The social services and the Department of Health have "tick lists" as to who will and who will not get some support with their everyday needs. Sometimes something as simple as providing a befriending service so that the person has somebody—age-appropriate, it is to be hoped—to have an evening out with socially can make all the difference to their sense of well-being.