Autism (Hansard, 28 January 1963)

9. Mr. Compton Carr
asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for psycho-analysis on children assessed as autistic to be made available as an item under the National Health Service.

§ Mr. Braine
It is available.

Mr. Carr
Will my hon. Friend make sure that people who have children assessed as autistic are made aware of this? Does he realise that it is not widely known?

§ Mr. Braine
The Question referred to a particular method of treatment, and the answer I gave was that psychoanalysis is available in the same way as any other specialist treatment.

§ Mr. K. Robinson
Would not it be true to say that psycho-analytical treatment is not widely available for this type of child? Is not it the fact that facilities to treat severely disturbed children in general by psycho-therapy or other means are far from adequate in the Health Service, and is not it time that something was done about this?

§ Mr. Braine
That is a somewhat wider question, and there is a further Question on the Order Paper. There are considerable differences of opinion among psychiatrists and those responsible for psychiatric training regarding the value of treatment by psycho-analysis.

Mr. Carr
I am sorry to press this point. But will my hon. Friend make sure that medical practitioners realise that the treatment is available? He must be aware that some who have assessed that psycho-analysis is necessary have informed parents that they would have to bear the cost themselves.

§ Mr. Braine
I am sure that the medical practitioners know the position. It is no part of the business of my right hon. Friend to direct their attention to specific forms of treatment.

10. Mr. Compton Carr
asked the Minister of Health, what information he has received from education authorities regarding the size of the problem of autism in children in their respective areas.

§ Mr. Braine
Local education authorities refer cases to the appropriate Health Service authority direct.

Mr. Carr
In view of the Answer which I received to a Question which I put to the Minister of Education on 6th December, will my hon. Friend make sure that more facts are made available to his Department, as the result of late assessment of autism in children in very many cases shows that most of the information must come from the education authorities?

§ Mr. Braine
Yes, Sir. I think that it may be of interest not only to my hon. Friend but to the House if I add that at the request of my right hon. Friend the Standing Mental Health Advisory Committee is currently reviewing the extent of the need for special facilities for mentally ill children. In other words, there is quite a lot moving on this front.