Polegate MP Maria Caulfield has welcomed the opportunity to serve as an officer on the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Autism.

The APPG - which is cross-party and extends across both Houses - is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected either directly or indirectly by autism.

Priorities for the forthcoming year are: • Schools – training and support • Employment • Community care • Autism act – review its progress • Criminal justice • Concurrent health care needs Maria said: "I recently had the great pleasure of meeting with a group of parents in Lewes, who informed me of the daily struggles that they are experiencing in several areas.

"Two specifics given were getting a diagnosis for their children, and the lack of educational specialist provision available for those affected by Autism in East Sussex.

"I am therefore very much looking forward to working with other members of the APPG in order to bring about changes that can genuinely improve the lives of those struggling with the effects of autism."

Mark Jones, Trustee & CEO at Families for Autism which is based in Eastbourne, said: "Firstly I would just like to offer my sincere congratulations to Maria for her appointment to the All –Party Parliamentary Group on Autism as a serving officer.

"Now that Maria has joined the group this opens up a great opportunity for families in Lewes and East Sussex to take part in helping to make a real difference about Autism at a national level.

"I am extremely proud that our charity will be partnered with Maria within an advisory capacity and working together, we can help to raise awareness of the condition through Families for Autism’s own member’s life experiences.

"We hope that our work will add strength to raising parliamentary awareness and look to support changes that will improve the lives of individuals on the Autistic spectrum."