New Autism Strategy (Autism Act 2009 Committee Report)

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick Excerpts

Wednesday 10th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Lab)]

My Lords, I was delighted to be a member of the autism committee, under the very clear direction of our chairperson, the noble Baroness, Lady Rock. I was very grateful for the direction and guidance from the noble Baroness, Lady Browning, and my noble friend Lord Touhig, who have a particular interest and expertise in this area. I pay tribute to our clerks and special adviser in relation to the topic. I thank the Government for their response, which, I say to my noble friend the Minister, could have been stronger and have indicated a desire to produce an immediate strategy, as much analysis and evidence is already there, particularly from the report that we published last November.

I declare that my cousin’s son is autistic. He displays or exhibits certain characteristics and special interests, on which there is a fixation. But all in all, he is an exceptionally bright child and will do well in spite of his disability.

Far-reaching legislation for autism was enacted in 2009, followed by various strategies. The last strategy was published in 2021 and is due to expire in a month’s time. The Government have stated that it will continue until a new one is in place. I suggest that work on the new strategy should already be under way and publication should take place early in the second half of this year.

Our report called for the Government to develop such a strategy, tackling persistent inequalities experienced by autistic people in education, health, work, criminal justice and the community. Since our report was published, I note that the Government have commissioned an independent review into mental health conditions, autism and ADHD, launched a call for evidence to inform a mental health strategy and announced a special educational needs reform Bill. Although welcome, I believe this only accentuates the delay in bringing forward the strategy. Maybe my noble friend the Minister could suggest why the Government are proceeding down this course of action, rather than immediately publishing such a strategy. Will those various elements of the Government’s suggested course of action contain the elements of such a strategy?

I am not criticising the Government, but as a member of the committee that published the report, I would have expected the publication of a new updated strategy to be based on much of the evidence that already exists and on the work that has already taken place, because we had extensive interviews with many autistic people, as well as professionals in the field. I therefore ask my noble friend the Minister: why was this the case? Why have a further review, which involves much work and delay, when much work has already been undertaken? Why not publish an immediate strategy?

Our recommendations included the launch of a new initiative to improve understanding and acceptance of autism and expanding mandatory training on autism for public-facing staff; investment in driving down autism assessment waiting times while developing and scaling up an effective model for identification, assessment and lifelong support; and setting a clear timeline and road map for the development of strong community services so that provisions in the Mental Health Act 2025 to end the unnecessary detention of autistic people and people with a learning disability can be commenced. Those are some of our recommendations; there are many more. I encourage my noble friend the Minister to have a look at all those recommendations and ensure that they can be placed in a strategy.

How will the Government ensure that autistic people and those who support them are fully involved in any reform of systems for identification, assessment and support? How will they set and pursue priorities for better health outcomes for autistic people in any future autism strategy? I thank my noble friend the Minister and look forward to her response.