Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) intersectionality and (b) cultural perceptions on the underdiagnosis of autism in women and girls.

The Department and NHS England continue to look at relevant evidence and national data sources so that we can identify and try to mitigate health inequalities.

Analyses of the NHS Health and Care of People with Learning Disabilities data, which provides information on differences in healthcare between people with a learning disability and/or autism and those without, published by NHS England, supports evidence from the literature that rates of diagnoses are often lower, and below expected prevalence, in certain ethnic communities. We also know from the research literature that attitudes, beliefs, and stigma about neurodevelopmental differences likely play a significant role.