Harriett Baldwin: I thank my hon. Friend for his exceptional work in this area. He shares my passion for the new Malvern-based autism free school, which will benefit children across Worcestershire and more widely. Can he update the House on how he sees progress on delivering the new free school?
Peter Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on appointing a provider for the new 48 place Autism Spectrum Disorder special free school in Darlington.
Daniel Johnson: ...Lyle for raising the issue, and I remind members in the chamber of my own diagnosis. Just over a year ago, the report “Not included, not engaged, not involved: A report on the experiences of autistic children missing school” was published. I held a members’ business debate on the report, and the cabinet secretary gave an undertaking to consider the recommendations and to meet...
Jo Churchill: ...communication with users who rely on lip-reading and facial expressions. This includes people who are d/Deaf and people with hearing loss, people with dementia, people with a learning disability, autistic people and people with complex needs including behaviour that challenges.
Barry Sheerman: The Minister knows that the law has changed and the Home Secretary can no longer intervene in these cases. When young people are on the autism spectrum or suffering from mental health challenges, can we make sure that court officials, especially judges, understand their circumstances and challenges better? I am referring particularly to the case of Lauri Love.
Damien Moore: I welcome my hon. Friend to her new role. In my constituency of Southport, three excellent schools specialise in teaching children with autism as well as behavioural and learning disabilities. Does she agree that encouraging children with those conditions to learn about our political structure will make them more likely to engage with the electoral systems as adults?
Gillian Keegan: ..., we set out plans for reforming the health system. The plans contain a focus on personalisation and strengthening the role of patient choice, including in mental health, learning disability and autism services. This aims to create a more integrated and collaborative health system, which is highly responsive to patients.
Mark Drakeford: ...the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, the Welsh Government provides local authorities with guidance in the form of codes of practice and statutory guidance. Topics covered include autism services, prevention, assessment, eligibility and care planning, charging and financial assessment, children who are looked after, safeguarding and partnership working.
Lord Addington: ...increasingly talk about a hidden disability or a disability spectrum in which certain similarities are shared. I am glad that the noble Lord, Lord Astor, is in the Chamber. When we last discussed autism, in admiration I teased him for championing the case for placing autism in the fabric of consciousness. Autism has indeed become the sexy and fashionable disability and people are opening...
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: ...I give just one example of this educational vandalism. In the most deprived area of Bristol it is proposed to close Whitehouse Primary and Gay Elms Primary, Gay Elms containing the only specialist autistic unit for children in the whole of Bristol. Will she be vigilant that this sort of outrage cannot be slipped past her because it will only undermine the very excellent efforts which have...
Heidi Allen: ...know that their households are short of money—purely because of tax credits. On the flipside, just this Friday I was visited in one of my constituency surgeries by a young married lady with three autistic children—it is a very sad case—who was scared to accept payment for the precious hours she worked as a volunteer teacher, for fear of having her benefits taken away.
Nadhim Zahawi: ...for Health and Social Care launched a consultation on draft guidance on reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention for children and young people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions or mental health needs. The consultation sought views on how well the draft guidance would help a range of settings and services to support children and young people...
Mark McDonald: ...a personal interest in the subject. Is the cabinet secretary aware of research that is being undertaken on the use of iPad technology to help to address the communication needs of children with autism and improve their educational attainment? Has the Scottish Government commissioned research, or is it keeping an eye on international research, on the issue?
Julian Huppert: People with autism and mental health problems have particular problems with the work capability assessment, and the courts recently found that the test put people with mental health problems at a substantial disadvantage. Will the Minister or the Secretary of State rethink the work capability assessment for those people and pause the process, for which Rethink Mental Illness called?
Baroness Hollins: ...—Next Steps report published January 2015, what plans they have to introduce a national mandatory commissioning framework for community services for people with a learning disability or autism whose behaviour challenges.
Justin Tomlinson: The point about employers is absolutely right. That is why we have worked with Autism Alliance to improve knowledge and awareness across our Jobcentre network. We have specialist teams to assist with access to work, and the small employer offer will specifically match employers with the support and help that is available to create more opportunities for disabled people.
Robert Buckland: I am very conscious of that case, as I have a strong interest in autism issues. I have to emphasise that it is of course a matter for the courts—there has been a court procedure relating to this issue—so I am loth to make direct comment on the case, but I am certainly following it very carefully.
Tim Farron: From my experience of the supported housing provided for constituents with autism and learning difficulties, I know that the LHA rent cap will mean that they simply will not be able to afford the support that they get in their current setting. They will end up in institutions or hospitals, which will actually cost the taxpayer far more money.
Baroness Hollins: ...during the day. This relates particularly to children who have very difficult and challenging behaviour, including those with learning disabilities who might have attention deficit syndromes or autistic spectrum disorders. This amendment needs very careful and thoughtful consideration.
Nadine Dorries: ...services for children, including disabled children. As part of the £500 million, £31 million will also be used to address particular challenges faced by individuals with a learning disability and autistic people, including for community respite services for children and young people and their families.