2024 APPGA Meeting 10th September 2024

You can read the minutes of the meeting here.

2024 APPGA Meeting 5th March

You can read the minutes of the meeting here.

2023 APPGA Meeting 14th December - Mental Health

You can read the minutes of the meeting here.

2023 APPGA Meeting 12th September – Education

The agenda was altered on the day due to votes in parliament meaning chair Sir Robert Buckland was delayed. The National Autistic Society’s Head of Policy and Campaigns. Mel Merritt (MM) chaired the meeting until Sir Robert arrived. 

We started with reflections on SEND and AP improvement plan from charities. This was delivered by Jake Runacres (JR) from the National Autistic Society and Danae Leaman-Hill (D L-H) form Ambitious about Autism. 

You can read the minutes of the meeting here.

APPGA Annual General Meeting Minutes 2023 

Tuesday 14th March 2023 

Attendees:  

• Sir Peter Bottomley MP 
• Peter Gibson MP 
• Jonathan Reynolds MP 
• Mary Foy MP 
• Christina Rees MP 
• Lord Don Touhig 
• Baroness Sheila Hollins 
• Baroness Angela Browning 
• Sir Robert Buckland MP 

1. Welcome and introduction  

2. Election of the APPGA Chairs and Officers 

Chair 

Sir Robert Buckland MP  

Vice Chairs/Officers:

• Jonathan Reynolds MP 
• Mary Foy MP 
• Peter Gibson MP 
• Lord Don Touhig 
• Baroness Sheila Hollins 
• Kate Osborne MP 
• Cat Smith MP 

3. Income and Expenditure Statement  

Approved by the group 
 
4. AOB 

Discussion of suggestions for the upcoming year including: 

• Greater collaboration with other APPGs 
• Draft Mental health Bill  
• Education 

2022 APPGA Annual General Meeting Minutes

You can read the minutes of the meeting here.

Wednesday 11 May 2022

Attendees:

• Huw Merriman MP
• Sharon Hodgeson MP
• Sir Peter Bottomly MP
• Barry Sheerman MP
• Judith Cummins MP

1. Welcome and introduction by Huw Merriman MP

2. Election of the APPGA Chairs and Officers

Huw Merriman
 
Seeking relection as officers but unable to attend: (all elected)

• Paul Bristow
• Jonathan Reynolds
• Cat Smith
• Darren Henry
• Sharon hodgeson MP
• Barry Sheerman MP
• Kate Osborne
• Baronnes Hollins

3. Income and Expenditure Statement - approved

4. AOB

a. Running more UA trainings
b. Annual Autism Debate
c. Roundtable events and research
d. Asks we’ve got of the department with the strategy, face to face with Will Quince
e. Put together a plan for the year ahead

2021 APPGA Annual General Meeting

On 26 April, the APPGA’s Annual General Meeting took place online via Microsoft Teams. AGMs are different to the rest of the meetings held by the APPGA. They take place once a year and their primary purpose is to elect office bearers and to approve the Group’s income and expenditure statement.

The meeting was an important opportunity to give thanks and pay tribute to the late Dame Cheryl Gillan MP, Chair of the APPGA, and long-standing advocate for autistic people and their families. APPGA Members shared their own tributes, reflecting on Dame Cheryl’s friendship, determination, mentorship. 

The group elected Dame Cheryl’s friend and colleague Huw Merriman MP to the position of Chair. We are delighted to have such an experienced and dedicated parliamentarian to continue Dame Cheryl’s legacy of improving support for autistic people, and understanding about autism. You can find further information on who was elected in the minutes of the meeting. 

The next meeting of the APPGA will be to review the upcoming Autism Strategy (publication anticipated May 2021). 

2021 Meeting on the impact of coronavirus

On 14 January 2021, we held a meeting of the APPG on Autism focussing on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on autistic people and their families. 

While the pandemic has affected the everyday lives of people across the country, we know it has had a disproportionate and devastating impact on the mental health, wellbeing and education prospects of hundreds of thousands of autistic people and their families. This was highlighted in our recent Left Stranded report, which was published in partnership with four other leading autism organisations - Ambitious about Autism, Autistica, Scottish Autism, and the Autism Alliance. 

The APPGA held this meeting to explore these issues further, and to hear from the Minister for Social Care Helen Whately about what action the Government is taking to address them as we continue through another national lockdown and ahead of the publication of the new national autism strategy. Our Director of External Affairs and Social Change, Jane Harris, presented findings from the Left Stranded report, and Kiri-Lynn Gardner, an autistic adult with an autistic teenage son, talked about the challenges she has faced during the pandemic. The Minister also took part in a Q&A session.

We were delighted that over 100 people attended, including a number of Parliamentarians. You can read the minutes of the meeting here. 

2019 APPGA Annual General Meeting

On 29 October, the APPGA’s Annual General Meeting took place in Parliament. These meetings are different to the rest of the meetings held by the APPGA. They take place once a year and their primary purpose is to elect office bearers - you can find further information on who was elected in the minutes of the meeting – and to approve the Group’s income and expenditure statement.

The meeting was a great opportunity to take stock of the work the APPGA has carried out over the past year, specifically the inquiry into the Autism Act and the subsequent The Autism Act, 10 Years On report. This report outlines what the next Government must include in the review of the national autism strategy to improve the lives of autistic people and their families.

Once Parliament returns in December following the General Election, we will be reconstituting the Group as quickly as possible so that we can focus on ensuring that the next Government’s review of the national autism strategy reflects the report’s recommendations.