Mary Scanlon: ..., in accordance with section 60(2) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, that education authorities establish which children in their area over two years old have special educational needs such as autism.
Lloyd Quinan: I will talk about the public health and budgetary implications of the massive increase in the incidence of autism spectrum disorder, particularly since 1998. Despite the fact that there is increasing evidence of a potential causal link between the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and the increased incidence of autism, a proper and full study of the potential link has not yet been...
Mr Seamus Mallon: ...discussed the good co-operation already taking place, as evidenced by our education officials’ attending a recent conference in Virginia and by US experts’ visiting Dublin to share expertise on autism and dyslexia. Northern experts will also attend that meeting. Of these very positive meetings, this was probably the most interesting, at least for me. As they have been initiated, they...
Susan Deacon: ...and Primary Care Teams in 1998 and 1999 to provide them with detailed information about the investigations which have taken place into alleged links between MMR and Crohn’s disease and autism. This letter also asked for their help in reassuring parents and encouraging them to have their children vaccinated with MMR. In addition, the Health Education Board for Scotland has produced a...
Michael Matheson: To ask the Scottish Executive what is the number of prisoners in Scottish prisons who suffer from autism.
Hugh Henry: ...people with incapacity and their families and carers cannot feel the full benefit of the reforms until the act is implemented. Will the minister reassure people, such as members of the Renfrewshire Autism and Asperger Group, who are concerned that they have no say in their adult children's lives unless they have the means to go to court? Will the minister reassure me that, while the legal...
Lloyd Quinan: ...great centres of excellence, but we do not have sufficient services to support all the children in this country who suffer from learning difficulties. I will refer specifically to children with autistic spectrum disorder. There is a problem with diagnosis as well as with the provision of services. I know that the Executive is aware of that and that its departments are addressing the...