The National Autistic Society's decision to close Irthlingborough Daycentre, with virtually no notice and without meaningful dialogue with the local authority to identify an alternative way forward, is completely unacceptable. Having met the families of affected service users at the weekend, who are understandably very distressed by this news, I have called on the charity to suspend the closure for six months and to now engage in constructive dialogue with North Northamptonshire Council - who I know stand ready to engage meaningfully in the spirit we would all wish to see - to ensure continuity of provision for the vulnerable autistic people with complex needs who rely on this service. I hope they will agree to do so, and I shall continue to press for such engagement to happen as a matter of urgency, with a view to that hopefully bringing about a better way forward.