New Clause 1
Autism Bill
3:15 pm
John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington, Labour)
I congratulate those who have been involved in the discussions on their ingenious solution of making an NHS body a local authority. We might learn from that point for other legislation. Nevertheless, everyone who has dealt with constituents or family members in their struggle with local authorities for any form of recognition and then treatment or care know that the process is difficult, and even more difficult with NHS trusts. That might not be a matter for the Bill today, but offering judicial review or the Secretary of State intervening on the basis of a default notice is still a tortuous process. Judicial review is expensive and complex, so within the strategy the Minister might look at what resources there are for individuals and their families to exercise the right to ensure that the guidance is in force.