PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Autism and Learning Disability (18 May 2021)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) prevent people with learning disabilities and autism being inappropriately detained under the Mental Health Act 2007 and (b) ensure that adequate support is available in the community for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Asked by:
Marsha De Cordova (Labour)

In the Reforming the Mental Health Act White Paper we set out proposals to limit the scope to detain people with a learning disability or autistic people under the Act. Autism or a learning disability would not be considered mental disorders warranting compulsory treatment.

The NHS Long Term Plan commits increased investment in intensive, crisis and forensic community support for people with a learning disability and autistic people which will enable more people to receive personalised care in the community, closer to home and reduce preventable admissions to inpatient services.

Answered by:
Helen Whately (Conservative)
24 May 2021