§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to(a) raise public awareness of the existence and symptoms of (i) autism and (ii) Asperger's Syndrome and (b) to improve the United Kingdom's record in diagnosis and assessment. [139174]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 23 November 2000]: In 1999–2000 the Department gave project grants on autism, including Asperger's Syndrome, to the National Autistic Society and the Institute of Psychiatry. The needs of autistic people who also have a learning disability will be covered by the learning disability strategy which will be published as a White Paper in the early months of next year.
Part of the explanation for the increasing number of children identified as having an autistic spectrum disorder is improvement in diagnosis by the medical profession. The National Health Service Executive has funded an evaluation of the Diagnostic Interview for Social and Communication Disorders (DISCO) against other new approaches to diagnosis. DISCO was developed at the Medical Research Council Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry and is making a major contribution to the more reliable diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders. Its continuing development is being undertaken by the National Autistic Society.
We recognise the importance of health, social services and education agencies collaborating to facilitate early identification and effective intervention. Quality Projects, the programme to transform children's services, will continue for a five year period until 2004 with additional resources. From April 2001, services for disabled children will be a priority area and over the following three years £60 million has been earmarked for spending on services for disabled children and their families.