Part of Autism Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:15 pm on 13 May 2009.
Clause 9 is the last clause and I intend to vote against it, to remove it from the Bill. However, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, Mr. Gale, for your chairmanship, and both Clerks of the Committee and the Hansard Reporters for their sterling work. I particularly thank all my colleagues across the party. I am sorry to colleagues who indicated that they would not be able to join us today and have not been able to participate in what I think is an historic moment for the Bill. I shall reserve my thanks for the Ministers officials, in both Departments, who have behaved superbly, but I would particularly like to put on record that the two Ministers have gone the extra mile in their work. The Health Minister has met all our expectations in an extraordinary fashion. I am truly grateful to him and it has been a pleasure working with a very professional Minister.