MSP defiant as committee dismisses autism bill

Published on Friday 17 December 2010 16:22

A BILL aimed at improving ser-vices for people with autism has been rejected by a Holyrood committee.

The Autism (Scotland) Bill was introduced earlier this year by Hugh O'Donnell, a Liberal Democrat MSP for Central Scotland who used to be a support worker for people with autism.

A key requirement of his bill was that ministers would have to publish an "autism strategy" aimed at improving the current entitlement of people with the condition.

It stipulated that NHS bodies and local authorities should "have regard to" any guidance issued in the strategy.

However, the education committee published a report yesterday expressing concerns over the ability of the bill to deliver the required improvements, saying the proposed obligations were not "robust enough".

Committee convener Karen Whitefield said MSPs recognised the good intentions and goodwill behind the bill.

"However, the committee is not convinced the proposed Scottish Government strategy on autism would be improved by passing autism-specific legislation," she said.

"We are also concerned this bill could create a perception of two-tier disabilities, with some strategies thought of as more worthy of legislation and therefore seen as having more weight."

Mr O'Donnell denied the bill would create a two-tier approach. He said: "We do not have a level playing field at the moment. This bill is about creating a level playing field for people with autism."

He said he was extremely disappointed with the committee's rejection of the bill and would not give up.

He said: "I will not be withdrawing it. I will do all that I can to ensure it continues to proceed through parliament."