Yesterday, Andrew took part in the Sentencing White Paper Statement in the House of Commons.
Andrew asked the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland MP, if he will ensure that proper training is put in place to identify autism across the prison and probation service.
You can read Andrew's question and the Secretary of State’s response below, or see the full Statement online here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-09-16/debates/2FEDDE2C-FF94-424A-8B97-7CBA9760C5EB/SentencingWhitePaper
Andrew Percy
The good folk of Brigg and Goole and the Isle of Axholme will welcome the changes when it comes to burglary, as do I, as somebody who has been burgled three times—I have nothing worth kifing, though. However, on the important issue of autism, one of the big problems we have in this country is people’s ability to access an assessment and a formal diagnosis of autism. Will the Lord Chancellor ensure that proper training is put in place across the Prison Service and the probation service to identify that?
Robert Buckland
I was sorry to hear about my hon. Friend’s experiences. I am glad that he has shared with us that he has nothing of value—perhaps nothing left of any value. As a victim of crime, he is right to point to both ends of the spectrum. When it comes to autism, we have some excellent therapeutic services in places such Her Majesty’s Young Offender Institution Aylesbury, but it seems to me that they are islands of excellence in a sea of a lack of response. That is what I want the call for evidence to identify. Through that body of information, we can then take the action that he and I have wanted for so long.
