My understanding is that about 500 posts have been advertised for CDNTs with a view improving them, which is necessary. There has been an issue with the recruitment and retention of staff on the paediatric side and the childcare side.

I take the point in respect of prisons. I think there should be a general attitudinal change to people with disabilities, particularly people with autism, in terms of how schools deal with a child or young person who has certain manifestations of, say, physical or other activities that are difficult to control because of their condition. As a basic principle, in my view, no child with a disability or with autism should be expelled from any school, and that is beginning to happen. Although I cannot interfere with the judicial system, I do not think any young person should be sent to prison because of autism. We should have a different response.

See this speech in context