4th February: a busy day for Minsister Norman Lamb as he fielded questions on the adult autism strategy, or more specifically on the listening exercise on the review of the adult autism strategy. The implementation of this strategy – which has taken 3 years, so far – has not not been without its problems! For a full critique, try the NAS website. As usual, some crossover between autism and learning disability viz. the citing of ‘the disability and health employment strategy’.
4th February: a busy day for Minsister Norman Lamb as he fielded questions on the adult autism strategy, or more specifically on the listening exercise on the review of the adult autism strategy. The implementation of this strategy – which has taken 3 years, so far – has not not been without its problems! For a full critique, try Grahame Morris (Easington, Labour) :
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that the Department addresses issues on employment and benefits raised during the listening exercise on the review of the adult autism strategy.
Norman Lamb (The Minister of State, Department of Health; North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat) :
Officials have been working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on issues relating to employment and benefits following the listening exercise on the review of the Adult Autism Strategy. DWP has recently published the disability and health employment strategy which outlines a more personalised and tailored approach to employment support for disabled people including people with autism.
The disability and health employment strategy is designed to ensure that disabled people including people with autism can make a smooth transition into work and receive adequate in-work support when they secure employment. We are working closely with DWP officials to inform the delivery of their strategy and are supporting a stakeholder event in March with the DWP, senior representatives from the National Autistic Society and people with autism as part of this process.
Sarah Champion (Rotherham, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) what plans he has to ensure that greater transparency and accountability in the delivery of services for adults with autism are incorporated into the forthcoming review of the adult autism strategy;
(2) what plans he has to develop greater autism awareness in local communities.
Norman Lamb
As part of the ongoing Review of the Adult Autism Strategy, we are considering a proposal from the National Autistic Society on how local areas could become more autism-aware communities.
Public Health England (PHE) currently oversees the completion by local areas of a self-assessment exercise identifying progress being made in relation to the adult autism strategy. Individual returns should be discussed by Health and Wellbeing Boards and will be made available shortly by PHE to allow for local discussion and challenge. As part of the review of the strategy, we are also considering how the views and experiences of people with autism can have an even greater impact in this process.
Luciana Berger: (Liverpool, Wavertree, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of a community-based awareness scheme for autism.
Norman Lamb:
As part of the ongoing Review of the Adult Autism Strategy, we are considering a proposal from the National Autistic Society on how local areas could become more autism-aware communities.