Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Care of 8 May 2019, Official Report, column 432, when the data on autism diagnosis waiting times will be published.

The Department is determined to drive up performance on autism diagnosis nationally. To support this NHS Digital began formally collecting autism diagnosis waiting time data from mental health provider trusts for the first time through the Mental Health Services Data set in April 2018. Data is submitted on behalf of autism diagnostic services, in line with issued guidance. We expect to publish a report after a year’s data has been collected and analysed, this autumn. As this is the first time this data is being submitted some work to improve its quality may be necessary.