Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Autistic People in the Workforce

Monday 7 February 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Office for National Statistics reported that only 25% of autistic adults are in meaningful employment despite record job vacancies.
  • The government is working with the National Autistic Society to test ways to make jobcentres more inclusive of people with autism.
  • The Minister offered to look into a specific case of a constituent with autism who underwent a telephone work capability assessment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Huw Merriman Con
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from the need to support autistic individuals in gaining employment, highlighting a significant gap between job vacancies and meaningful employment rates among autistic adults.

Question

What steps she is taking to support autistic people into the workforce. The Office for National Statistics highlighted that only 25% of autistic adults are in any form of meaningful employment despite record job vacancies.

Answer from Chloe Smith

We are working with the National Autistic Society to test ways to make jobcentres more inclusive of people with autism; this test will inform changes to the wider jobcentre network. We encourage employers to consider autistic people for roles and can offer support where needed through Access to Work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not address regional adjustments or specific steps to get employers to take action seriously, despite these being explicitly asked about.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Huw Merriman Con
Education Employment Women & Equalities
Context

The question follows up on a previous response regarding steps to support autistic individuals in employment, highlighting that only 25% of autistic adults are employed despite high job vacancies.

Question

I thank the Minister for that response and the work she is doing. The Office for National Statistics highlighted back in November last year that, tragically, only 25% of autistic adults are in any form of meaningful employment despite record job vacancies. I am encouraged by the Minister's additional steps, but what can we do to get the regional adjustments in place so employers really take this seriously?

Answer from Chloe Smith

There is a lot that we can do together and this is an effort for the Government, for employers and for others such as the National Autistic Society and the all-party group on autism. We are engaging with employers through the disability confident scheme; supporting jobseekers, workers and employers through Access to Work; and making our jobcentres and youth hubs inclusive in the way they ought to be.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specifically address regional adjustments or how to ensure that employers take autism seriously as requested.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Carol Monaghan SNP
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question arises from a constituent's case where an individual with autism underwent a work capability assessment without proper representation, resulting in a reduction of Employment and Support Allowance.

Question

My constituent has a range of conditions, including autism, which has left him with a mental age of 10. He underwent a telephone work capability assessment without a parent or guardian present, which resulted in a reduction in his employment and support allowance. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the case? What steps are being taken to ensure that autistic people and those with additional support needs are helped into work and not targeted in such a manner?

Answer from Chloe Smith

I would be happy to look in more detail at this case—or ask officials to do so—which appears to raise a number of issues. More generally, we are absolutely committed to supporting disabled people appropriately into employment that might be right for them. There is more than £1 billion of funding in the spending review for disability employment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not specifically commit to meeting the questioner or address measures against targeting during assessments, despite these being asked about.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email