Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had since the last meeting of the National Autism Programme Board on increasing accountability for improving outcomes for autistic people within NHS England and on creating a new role of National Clinical Director for autism.

Since the meeting of the cross government Autism Programme Board on 16 June 2016, discussions with NHS England have focused on taking forward the actions agreed to improve diagnostic waiting times and outcomes for people with autism. The National Autistic Society and the report of the Westminster Commission on Autism have both suggested that NHS England create a new role of National Clinical Director for autism, and this is a matter for NHS England to consider.

The Autism Programme Board at its last meeting also considered current and possible future sources of autism data. The Board asked that further consideration be given to this issue and for the Department to report back to them before their autumn meeting. This work is on-going.