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 include people with (a) learning disabilities and (b) autism in the development of mandatory training for NHS staff.

We will shortly consult on proposals for mandatory learning disability and autism training to ensure that staff working in health and social care understand the needs of people with learning disabilities and autism and have the skills to provide them with the most effective care and support. Officials have worked with people with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism to develop the consultation proposals.

We want to hear a range of views, including those from people with a learning disability or autism and their families, and in line with Cabinet Office principles on consultation, we will tailor the consultation to meet the needs and preferences of different groups, including the provision of consultation documents in alternative formats.

The consultation will consider the role of people with a learning disability or autism in the development and deployment of training as they can bring a unique and valuable perspective as users of health and care services.