During the last few weeks in my role as Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, I’ve been able to announce two innovative and exciting new policies.

In April, I was able to announce a new, wide-ranging strategy to tackle autism and improve services for those who are affected by the condition. An increasing number of people are being diagnosed with Autism in Wales and there is a need to improve the provision that is available for children, young people and adults with ASD.

Wales is the first country in the world to have established a cross-cutting national strategic action plan for ASD that will help the estimated 30,000 people that are either directly or indirectly affected by Autism in Wales. The Action Plan will drive improvements across both children, young people’s and adult services in health, social services and education services – and also expand into areas of housing, leisure and society in general, and is yet another ‘World first’ for Wales.

Last week, I was delighted to be able to announce that children under the care of Local Authorities in Wales are to benefit from an extra contribution of £150 a year to their Child Trust Fund as a result of additional funding from the Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government and from the UK Government.

Child Trust Funds, which were introduced in 2005, can help play a crucial role in achieving our aim of tackling child poverty in Wales. The account belongs to the child and can't be touched until they turn 18, so that children have some money behind them to start their adult life. Encouraging a savings culture and helping children learn about finance are crucial if we are to break the vicious circle of child poverty and I’m confident that policy will help us reach our goal.

The Labour-led Welsh Assembly Government has agreed to top up payments to local authorities from £50 per year per child to £100 per year per child. This is intended to encourage local authorities to contribute to the Child Trust Funds of children that they are responsible for as corporate parents. The UK Government, who have been impressed with this ‘made in Wales’ initiative, has now introduced their own scheme to top up the CTF accounts of all children looked after in the UK for a year or more since 1 April 2007 by £100 per year per child.

If you wish to contact me for any help and assistance that you feel I can provide you as your local Assembly Member, you can contact my office on 01792 869993 or e-mail . You can also keep up-to-date with my activities as your AM by logging on to gwendathomas.com