Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued on the sharing of information between medical and educational professionals following a diagnosis of autism for a young person.

Under the Children and Families Act 2014, clinical commissioning groups, National Health Service trusts, NHS foundation trusts and local education providers must co-operate with the local authority in supporting children with a special educational need, such as autism. This includes the sharing of relevant information. The statutory guidance Special educational needs and disability code of practice:0 to 25 years issued jointly by the Department of Health and the Department for Education, provides advice on how the partners can work together and share information in their statutory roles. The two departments have also issued a guide to the Code specifically for clinical commissioning groups, health professionals and local authorities.