PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Autism: Health Services (26 October 2022)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the national strategy for autistic children, young people and adults: 2021 to 2026, updated on 22 July 2021, whether it is his policy to invest £92 million in this strategy between 2021 and 2026.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

We published our refreshed national autism strategy, on 21 July 2021 and remain committed to realising the ambition set out in the strategy. The strategy was backed by over £74 million of funding in the first year to improve understanding in society, reduce diagnosis waiting times and improve access to high quality health and social care for autistic people. This included funding to reduce numbers of autistic people admitted to mental health hospitals.

We are continuing to invest in actions to implement the strategy. In 2022/23 NHS England are investing £40 million to continue to improve the capacity and capability of 7-day specialist multidisciplinary and crisis support for autistic people and people with a learning disability in every area of the country and £30 million of funding to continue putting keyworkers in place for children and young people with the most complex needs. This includes autistic children.

They are also investing £2.5 million in 2022/23, to test and implement the most effective autism diagnostic assessment pathways.

Answered by:
Maria Caulfield (Conservative)
3 November 2022