§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will detail the services and provision made available by his Department in England to those diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. [142846]
145W
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 18 December 2000]: It is the responsibility of local statutory authorities to determine the pattern of services in their area in the light of their knowledge of local needs and priorities.
The Department has issued guidance to encourage the development, at a local level, of a range of well co-ordinated health and social services for people with learning disabilities and autism and their carers.