A CAMPAIGNER who petitioned the Welsh Government last year to fund the charity that supports him has had his proposal discussed in the Senedd for the third time.

Penarth man Aled Thomas, 24, submitted his petition calling on the Welsh Government to give financial support to Autism Spectrum Connections Cymru (ASCC) - a charity that provides a service in the heart of Cardiff for adults living with autism in south east Wales.

The petitions committee had a discussion about evidence they have received which shows how there has been no procurement in the process of allocating funds for autism services in Wales.

Mr Thomas said he has little confidence in the Welsh Government’s autism strategy.

He said: “The Welsh Government are clearly refusing to answer any of the questions raised throughout the duration of this petition’s consideration.

“The government should be ashamed of itself for the lack of transparency in the development of the autism strategy and the apparent bias towards certain organisations.

“The government does have all the information about how autism services are funded according to a Freedom of Information request made last year which is published on the Welsh Government’s website.”

During the meeting at the Welsh Assembly’s petitions committee on Tuesday, February 6, Assembly Members agreed to ask for further information from the Welsh Government about why a procurement exercise wasn’t conducted when funding was awarded for the Integrated Autism Service (IAS), and confirmed that they will be writing to the government to seek further clarity on the procurement procedures followed in awarding funding for the IAS.

Welsh Conservative Party Assembly Member for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders, spoke at the meeting as a Committee member.

Ms Finch-Saunders AM mentioned that there seems to be a decent sum of money being invested for autism services in Wales and further questioned as to whether it would be possible to know how the £13 million is being spent on autism services in Wales as well as asking for more specific information on exactly where it is spent.

Petitions Committee chairman, UKIP Regional Assembly Member for South East Wales, David Rowlands AM, stated that they should write to the Welsh Government minister and Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board for answers before proceeding.