We are very concerned about the emergency powers in the Bill due to be published today. While Governments across UK nations have stepped in to underpin many parts of the economy and the NHS, they have not yet put essential extra funding into social care, even though these services will be facing the same staffing crisis. Some autistic children and adults need round the clock care to live safely and these services need extra funding to get through this crisis.

Instead, in England and Wales, the Government has proposed weakening the duties on councils to provide this care. Just doing this isn’t the solution. Governments across the UK must commit now to making social care services, their staff and the people they support, safe. Anything else would fail tens of thousands of families.

Further information

We have information and resources about Coronavirus to help you during this difficult time. We will be updating and expanding our information in the coming days.