Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to improve awareness among teachers, parents and healthcare professionals about the way in which autism presents differently in girls so that they (a) are identified earlier and (b) have adequate access to support.

We recognise that autism can present differently in girls and that masking may make symptoms less apparent in some individuals, leading to delayed identification or diagnosis.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on autism diagnosis for under 19s sets out that clinicians should pay attention to the under-diagnosis of girls when assessing for suspected autism. Integrated care boards and health professionals should have due regard to NICE guidelines.