Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of waiting times for the assessment for neurodiverse conditions by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Darlington constituency in the latest period for which data is available; and what steps he is taking to improve waiting times for these assessments.

This information is not held in the format requested. However, in Darlington, new referrals are being screened within four weeks. The Country Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is working with commissioners and partners to reduce demands on the diagnostic pathways. A whole system offer is being delivered to support families with needs typically associated with autism, which does not require a diagnosis. The offer includes a family support service, sensory programme and training for schools.

In addition, NHS England is developing a national framework on how children, young people and adults should receive a diagnosis, to improve the quality of these diagnostic processes and reduce waiting times.