Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the availability of occupational therapy for children with autism in England.

This specific assessment has not been made. However, we recognise the importance of autistic children having access to occupational therapy in line with their assessed needs.

On 2 March 2023, the Department for Education published the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan in response to the Green Paper published in March last year. The SEND and AP Improvement Plan sets out our proposal to commission analysis to ensure that the health needs of children and young people with SEND, including autistic children, are supported through effective workforce planning. We proposed work with Health Education England, NHS England and the Department for Education to build on existing evidence and build a clearer picture of demand for support for children and young people with SEND from the therapy and diagnostic workforce.

The NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan is imminent and will include 15-year intentions around workforce supply and demand.