A BILL which would have enshrined the rights of autistic people in Wales to services meeting their needs in law has been thrown out.

The bill introduced by leader of the Assembly’s Welsh Conservative group was rejected by 28 votes to 24 on Tuesday after Labour AMs voted against it.

Introducing the bill, which was developed alongside the National Autistic Society, Mr Davies said services for autistic people were “inconsistent across Wales and, in some areas, inadequate”.

“Children and young people with autism aren't fulfilling their potential,” he said. “Parents are despairing because the services that they need aren't available.

“We shouldn't still be in a situation where parents say that services aren't there and everything was a fight.

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“These families deserve better.

“People with autism have waited long enough.

“Urgent action is needed now to ensure that more support services are put in place.”

Speaking later in the debate, he added: “This primary legislation will help considerably to improve the lives of people living with autism throughout Wales.

“We have a duty of care to all residents, and we need to give them tailored opportunities that will exceed their expectations and give them opportunities to realise their potential.”

AMs heard a number of stories about people in Wales either with autism or with family members with the condition who felt services were not currently up to scratch, including some who had been forced to travel long distances for the support they needed.

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But health minister Vaughan Gething said, although it was recognised support for autistic people and their families should be improved, the Welsh Government was already developing a new statutory code for improving services.

“There are real, legitimate and serious concerns that I and the government take seriously and are committed to addressing,” he said. “That is why this government has invested significantly and will continue to invest in new services.

“The difference in this chamber is not whether we should improve services to make a real difference to the lived experience of autistic people and their families, the difference is how we make that difference.”

But he added “the door is open to future legislation”.

All the votes against the bill came from Labour AMs, as well as Liberal Democrat education minister Kirsty Williams and Independent deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism Dafydd Elis-Thomas.

Plaid Cymru, the Welsh Conservatives and Ukip AMs supported the bill, but this was not enough to pass it to the next stage.

The rejection of the bill was met with dismay from many, with Plaid Cymru’s shadow health minister Helen Mary Jones saying people with autism and their families had been “let down”.