Committees

Treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities

Inquiry

Limited progress in improving the way autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities are treated is to be examined by the Health and Social Care Committee. 

The short inquiry will hold the first of two evidence sessions next week with particular focus on the use of restraint and “sectioning”. It will also consider issues around seclusion, taking into account criticisms regarding human rights. 

Alexis Quinn, who is diagnosed with autism and has spoken publicly of her poor experiences of being held in the secure estate, will appear before MPs at the first session. 

The inquiry will consider what the Government plans to reform mental health legislation will mean for autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities. A white paper on reforming the Mental Health Act was published last month.

Upcoming events

View all events

No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Tuesday 27 April 2021
9:30am Private
10:00am Public
Treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities - Oral evidence 27 April 2021
10:00am
  • Bengi O’Reilly, an individual with lived experience
  • Dr Sara Ryan, an individual with lived experience
10:30am
  • Fiona Walshe (Director for Mental Health and Disabilities, Shielding and Volunteering Policy at Department of Health and Social Care)
  • Claire Murdoch (National Mental Health Director at NHS England)
  • Roger Banks (National Clinical Director for Learning Disabilities and Autism at NHS England)
  • Helen Whately MP (Minister of State for Social Care at Department of Health and Social Care)
Room 6, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 13 April 2021
9:00am Private
9:30am Public
Treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities - Oral evidence 13 April 2021
9:30am
  • Dr Ian Davidson (Autism Lead at NHS and Royal College of Psychiatrists)
  • Dr Ken Courteney (Chair at Royal College of Psychiatrists Intellectual Disability Faculty)
  • Ian Birrell, Journalist
10:00am
  • Sir Norman Lamb, former Minister at the Department of Health
  • Baroness Sheila Hollins (Founder at Beyond Words)
  • Dr Theresa Joyce (Clinical Psychologist and former National Professional Advisor on Learning Disabilities at Care Quality Commission)
  • Professor Philip Fennell (Emeritus Professor at Cardiff University)
Virtual meeting
Tuesday 9 February 2021
9:00am Private
9:30am Public
Treatment of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities - Oral evidence 9 February 2021
9:30am
  • Alexis Quinn, autism activist, author and Restraint Reduction Network Manager
10:00am
  • Dan Scorer (Head of Policy, Public Affairs, Information and Advice at Mencap)
  • Vivien Cooper (Founder at Challenging Behaviour Foundation)
  • Julie Newcombe (Co-Founder at Rightful Lives)
  • Ivan Olbrechts (Representative Body Member at Learning Disability England)
Virtual meeting

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.

  • Email: hsccom@parliament.uk
  • Address: Health and Social Care Committee, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA