Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training his Department provides to Jobcentre Plus staff on the communication needs of autistic people.

The DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all customers to meet their individual circumstances.

Work Coaches undergo a comprehensive learning journey when they join the DWP. The learning provides staff with the knowledge and skills to enable them to treat each claimant as an individual regardless of additional or complex needs.

In addition to this, DWP offer a learning product specific to Autistic awareness which is available to all work coaches on an ‘at point of need’ basis. The product includes:

• adapt how you communicate verbally
• adapt your body language
• show empathy
• adapt your environment