Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the potential merits of providing specific preventative support for (a) people with learning disabilities and (b) autistic people who are at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regularly discusses a range of issues with Cabinet colleagues. The Building the Right Support Action Plan, published 14 July 2022, includes actions to reduce the number of those with a learning disability and autistic people in inpatient care under Part III of the Mental Health Act 1983 and to improve support for people at all stages of the criminal justice system. The Ministry of Justice is working with NHS England to understand the role of liaison and diversion services in the initial stages of the criminal justice pathway.

Under the proposed Mental Health Act reforms, commissioners will have a duty to ensure there is an understanding of the risk of crisis of individuals in the area and there are sufficient community-based services for those with a learning disability and autistic people at risk of admission under Part II of the Act.