Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many NHS-commissioned or local-authority-commissioned parenting support programmes for families of children with an autism spectrum condition are currently operating in England; what the average waiting time is for a place on such a programme; and whether they have any plans to increase capacity.

An assessment has not been made of the adequacy of the current provision of parenting support programmes in relation to autism. Data on parenting support programmes is not held centrally but may be held locally by integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities.

Data on the number of patients aged under 18 years old with an open suspected autism referral receiving an autism diagnosis through National Health Service mental health services in each month is published as part of Autism Waiting Times Statistics on the NHS.UK website.

The Government is committed to supporting people with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autistic children and young people, and their families. They should have the right support in place, tailored to their individual needs, to live well in their communities.

It is the responsibility of ICBs to make available appropriate provision, including access to autism support services, to meet the health and care needs of their local population, taking into account relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

NHS England’s national operational guidance on autism sets out that following diagnosis, support for autistic people can comprise of, amongst other things:

• a post-diagnostic support offer;

• information and signposting; and

• individual or group interventions for family/carers.

Parenting programmes are commissioned locally, meaning provision varies by area in line with local needs. This may include evidence-based interventions or locally designed and voluntary sector-led approaches. Some local authorities also offer support, such as parenting programmes, for families of children and young people with special educational needs or disability (SEND).

We will make it easier for children, young people, and parent carers to access clear advice and practical support from the Government, both locally and nationally. We want families’ voices and experiences to shape SEND policy and local delivery, ensuring that families can influence decision-making around the support that they receive, including in local partnerships, and in the development of the policy that drives those decisions.

In December 2025, the Government launched an independent review into the Prevalence and Support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism. The review’s interim report, published at the end of March, sets out the evidence reviewed so far on prevalence, describes the impact of rising demand for diagnosis and support, identifies where the evidence is uncertain, and outlines the key questions for the next phase. It does not offer final conclusions or recommendations. The final report, due in the summer, will make recommendations on how the Government, the health system, and wider public services can respond to increasing demand for support more fairly and effectively so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.