Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for children requiring an autism assessment in (a) Mid Cheshire constituency, (b) Cheshire and (c) England.

The Department is currently considering next steps to improve access to autism assessments. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including autism assessments, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people and adults referred to an autism assessment service. In 2024/25 £4.3 million is available nationally to improve services for autistic children and young people, including autism assessment services.