Ms Jane Johnstone:

I am sorry to say it again but the transition period could take years. It is a major concern, particularly for the 18,000 people, including one of my sons, who have been identified as being completely non-verbal with a profound intellectual disability and autism. There are obvious implications of being in a desert and not knowing where we stand with regard to even administering his individualised budget. What do we do if he needs a medical procedure?

Who gives consent and all of those things? They are serious issues in themselves. As well as that, I can see myself and I have been worried about this for a long time. We have a lot of stresses as it is. That meeting with the Minister that Ms Cox mentioned is crucial from his point of view as well as from our own in order that we can reassure myself and the other 18,000 people who will be caring for people like Evan that there will be solutions to all of these issues because we will really need them.