HL Deb 03 December 2001 vol 629 cc105-6WA
Lord Clement-Jones

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What research they have undertaken or commissioned on the total costs to the community of autism. [HL1448]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Government have not commissioned research into the costs to the community of autism. The only published study in this area isThe Economic Impact of Autism in Britain by Jarbrink and Knapp, sponsored by the Mental Health Foundation and the Shirley Foundation. Their paper suggests that the average additional cost per person with autism over a lifetime might be £2.4 million—the bulk of this being for living support and day activities. Statutory support for adults with autism comes predominantly from mental health and learning disability services. The total cost of these services in 1999–2000 was approximately £4,250 million and £3,000 million respectively. The proportion of each attributable to autism is not separately identified.