Unusually, Michael Fabricant has cancelled a visit to an event in Stafford this coming Friday (27th February) in order to support the Autism Bill in the House of Commons. He will then race back for the annual Schools’ Speaking Competition in Lichfield’s Guildhall.

Michael Fabricant says: "I understand and appreciate the concern that many people with autism have about getting the appropriate services. These tend to be designed for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities and there is a very real concern that people with autism, a developmental disability, are not well served. The result is that many people with autism feel excluded and struggle to get the support that they need.

"This is a Private Member’s Bill which, unless it has Government support, cannot become law. Unfortunately, many Bills are ‘talked out’ by MPs and because the Government has not allocated additional time for debate, they cannot be taken any further. I do hope this will not be the case with this Bill. Last year Conservative MP, Angela Browning, helped introduce this Private Member’s Bill on autism which aims to ‘Recognise the numbers of people with autism, to provide effective transition from child to adult services and to ensure appropriate support and services thereafter’ otherwise known as the Autism Bill. On Friday, Cheryl Gillan MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, chose to take forward an Autism Bill after winning a House of Commons ballot to decide which MPs should sponsor legislation in the current Parliamentary session. I will be there to support the Bill and hope, despite the odds, it becomes law."