Autism Act 2009 Committee

LordsSelectest. 30 Jan 2025Email ↗● Actively Monitored
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Sessions analysed15
Commitments7
Positions16
Recommendations67

Latest Signals

10 Mar 2025Diagnosis backlogs and assessment access remain criticalAutisticaConcern
“[Speaker: Tim Nicholls] We know that over 200,000 people are on the diagnosis waiting list and that over 80% of them are waiting beyond NICE’s recommended three months for their first appointment. We know that people wait years and years for those diagnoses. Every moment that you do not have a diagnosis not only can inhibit getting the right support but is key to understanding yourself, your needs and your strengths. We have people living in limbo, often developing mental health problems off the back of that.”
10 Mar 2025Government strategy lacks clear targets, plan and fundingAutism AllianceConcern
10 Mar 2025Accountability for delivery is too weak at every levelAutism AllianceConcern
10 Mar 2025Mental health detention and crisis response are worseningNational Autistic SocietyConcern
10 Mar 2025Autistic adults can use the Autism Act to challenge decisionsNational Autistic SocietyLegislative
10 Mar 2025Autism Act still needed as a cross-system legal anchorNational Autistic SocietyPosition
10 Mar 2025Outcomes have barely improved since the ActAutism AllianceConcern
10 Mar 2025Autistic people still face severe unmet need and crisisAutism AllianceConcern

Recent Sessions

View all (15)
07 Jul 2025Autism Act: diagnosis, accountability and strategy
1 commit1 pos4 concern3 rec1 disag
30 Jun 2025Autism Act review: strategy, care and work reform
3 commit3 pos3 concern3 rec1 leg
23 Jun 2025Autism Act review: funding, accountability and NHS access
1 commit5 concern7 rec1 leg
16 Jun 2025Autism Act: criminal justice support gaps
3 concern2 rec
09 Jun 2025Autism Act: autistic employment barriers and support
1 pos4 concern3 rec
02 Jun 2025Autism Act: work barriers and service accountability
1 pos4 concern3 rec

Recent Commitments

View all (7)

Recent Recommendations

View all (67)

Frequent Witnesses

National Autistic Society3× · 16 insights
King’s College London2× · 9 insights
Ambitious about Autism2× · 5 insights
University of Edinburgh2× · 5 insights
Lancaster University2× · 4 insights
Autistica2× · 4 insights

About this committee

Scrutiny of autism policy implementation and the effectiveness of the statutory duty placed on public bodies under the Autism Act 2009 falls within this Lords Select Committee's remit. The committee operates in the House of Lords as a select committee and conducts oral evidence sessions with witnesses across government, NHS, and autism sector organisations. Recent work has focused on the government's autism strategy and how accountable mechanisms work in practice to ensure compliance with the Act's requirements. The committee examined strategy development and implementation gaps during sessions held in July and June 2025, scrutinising how departments and public bodies translate statutory duties into measurable outcomes for autistic people. Its inquiry addresses whether current frameworks adequately monitor progress and identify where strategic commitments translate into service improvements on the ground.