To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any proposals to provide more family support services and educational provision for those with autism.

Scottish Ministers have recently agreed to allocate an additional £36 million over the next three years to implement the recommendations of The Same as You?, a Scottish Executive-led review of services for people with learning disabilities. One key recommendation is the development of a national network for people with an autistic disorder. We have asked the Scottish Society for Autism and the National Autistic Society to take this recommendation forward.

The Scottish Executive Inclusion Programme is providing £12 million over two years to assist local authorities to include children with special educational needs (SEN), including those with autism, in mainstream education.