Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many young people with autism placed in secure accommodation in England in 2018-2019 were held in seclusion.

The data is not held centrally in the format requested.

The NHS Long Term Plan commits to achieving at least a 50% reduction in the number of people with a learning disability or autism who are inpatients in mental health hospitals by 2023/24. The NHS Planning Guidance requires a 35% reduction as soon as possible in 2019/20.

In May 2019, the Care Quality Commission published their thematic review interim report regarding the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide inpatient and residential care for people with, or who might have, mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. We accepted all the recommendations and will undertake independent reviews of the care of everyone with a learning disability or autism detained in long-term segregation.

The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 applies in relation to the use of force (restraint) in mental health units which provide National Health Service-funded treatment.

The aim of the Act is to bring more rigour and accountability around the recording, reporting and training of staff in the use of force in mental health units, with a view to reducing the use of restrictive practices.

The Act applies to all patients, children, young people and adults, who are being assessed or receiving treatment in a mental health unit.