Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to develop an easy-read version of the Down Syndrome Act 2022.

The Down Syndrome Act 2022 was published with explanatory notes to assist the reader in understanding the act. Under the Down Syndrome Act, My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is required to give guidance to the relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome.

A call for evidence on the guidance under the Down Syndrome Act was launched on 19 July 2022 and ran for 16 weeks. An easy read version of the call for evidence was published which included an overview of the Down Syndrome Act, and which is available on the GOV.UK website. The Department has engaged with stakeholders on the call for evidence, including sharing an easy read version of a draft summary of the results.

We intend to issue the draft guidance for public consultation by the summer, including easy read versions.