To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they will set out in the forthcoming Department of Health guidance Implementing Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives to improve local arrangements for leadership in relation to the provision of relevant services to adults with autism.

The national consultation on the statutory guidance closed on 22 October 2010. We are currently in the process of analysing the response, which will inform the further development of the statutory guidance. Ministers will then consider a revised draft and take final decisions on content. We would not wish nor would it be appropriate to anticipate this process.

The Autism Act sets the publication date for the statutory guidance, which must be produced and published before 31 December 2010.