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 reduce the number of people with autism in care homes.

We want autistic people to live healthy, independent lives and to participate in their local communities. This is one of the priorities of the Autism Strategy. To continue to improve outcomes for autistic people, their families and carers, we are launching a comprehensive review of our autism strategy to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities have a statutory duty to provide or arrange services that help prevent people developing needs for care and support or prevent people’s needs escalating, such that they would need ongoing care and support.