Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the (a) level and (b) adequacy of respite care provision, by county, for parents or guardians of children diagnosed with autism; and if he will make a statement.
Commissioning social care is a matter for local authorities, who have a duty to make sure there is a range of high-quality services in their area to meet local needs.
As set out in the COVID-19 Mental Health Wellbeing and Recovery Plan published on 27 March 2021, there is an additional £31 million allocated in 2021/22 to improve support in the community for autistic adults and children and for people with a learning disability, with £3 million allocated for respite and short breaks aimed at helping families, including those of autistic children.