Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to end the use of restraint, segregation and seclusion for people with (a) learning disabilities and (b) autism.

We are clear that restrictive interventions should only ever be used as a last resort. In 2018, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care commissioned the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to undertake a review into the use of restraint, segregation and seclusion for people with a learning disability and autistic people. The CQC’s final report was published on 22 October 2020, and we will take further action drawing on its recommendations.

We remain committed to implementing The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act. This makes clear that staff should be appropriately trained and that the Secretary of State must ensure that at the end of each year statistics are published regarding the use of force by staff in mental health units. We are developing statutory guidance to support the implementation of the Act.