Autism

Mr. Streeter
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account will be taken of the mental health needs of adults with autism in the forthcoming adult autism strategy.

Phil Hope
The autism strategy aims to ensure that mainstream public services become more inclusive of people with autism. This will mean ensuring that individuals’ needs—including mental health needs—are assessed and that people with autism get the right kind of support to address their assessed needs.

Derek Wyatt
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the delivery plan for the adult autism strategy.

Phil Hope
The delivery plan, scheduled for publication in March 2010, will set out in more detail the timescale for delivery in the first year. Further delivery plans will be prepared for the second and third years of the strategy.

Derek Wyatt
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has commissioned an autism prevalence study; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope
The NHS Information Centre (IC) issued invitations to tender to short list potential providers, to deliver much clearer information on the prevalence of autism in the population.

The procurement exercise is now nearing its conclusion and the NHS IC is looking to award the contract by the end of the month. The Department hopes to publish the findings in spring 2011.

David Howarth
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2010, Official Report, columns 1042W, on autism, when he plans to publish the delivery plan for the adult autism strategy to be produced under section 1 of the Autism Act 2009.

Phil Hope
The delivery plan, scheduled for publication in March 2010, will set out in more detail the timescale for delivery in the first year. Further delivery plans will be prepared for the second and third years of the strategy.