Mary Moran (Labour)

Today marks the seventh anniversary of world Down's syndrome day and for the first time, the United Nations will officially observe this day. In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared this day and every future 21 March world Down's syndrome day, which I welcome. Each year the voices of people with Down's syndrome and those who care for, and work with, them grow stronger. It is great progress to welcome the first United Nations-recognised world Down's syndrome day. It will go a long way to raise public awareness about Down's syndrome, what it means to have Down's syndrome and how people with Down's syndrome can play such a vital role in our society.

Down's syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement which has always been a part of the human condition and exists in all communities across the world. It is vital that adequate health care access is available to all. Early intervention programmes and inclusive education as well as appropriate research are vital to the growth and development of the individual. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on services for children with disabilities, in particular pre-school services for children with Down's syndrome.