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Pandemics: Support for People with Autism
02 December 2025
Lead MP
Jack Abbott
Ipswich
Lab/Co-op
Responding Minister
Dr Zubir Ahmed
Tags
NHS
Word Count: 4066
Other Contributors: 6
At a Glance
Jack Abbott raised concerns about pandemics: support for people with autism in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Abbott called for state support rather than relying solely on charities during pandemics and emphasised the need for clearer communication to help people with autism navigate such challenging times.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Jack Abbott highlighted the case of his constituent Ivan Ambrose, a 41-year-old man with autism and severe mental health problems who became housebound due to confusion and distress caused by constant changes in pandemic-related rules. He noted that information was not delivered in an autism-friendly way, leaving individuals like Ivan overwhelmed and debilitated.
Ayoub Khan
Ind
Birmingham Perry Barr
Khan highlighted the difficulties neuro-divergent children face in schools post-pandemic and called for additional funding to address these challenges, echoing Abbott's call for more support.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Lockhart agreed with Abbott's points, particularly highlighting the negative impact of school closures on children with autism and their reliance on structure and routine.
Chris Evans
Lab
Islwyn
Discussed the impact of the pandemic on autistic people's mental health, highlighting disproportionate impacts and challenges in accessing services.
Chris Vince
Lab/Co-op
Harlow
Vince thanked Abbott for his speech and highlighted the importance of state support alongside charity work, noting that charities cannot be relied upon to pick up the pieces after government failures. Asked about the digital flagging system for young carers and those with caring responsibilities. Acknowledged the House of Lords inquiry report recommendations and thanked his constituent Ivan for contributing valuable insights despite trauma.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Shannon commended Abbott's initiative and emphasised the importance of maintaining face-to-face support during pandemics. He cited Northern Ireland’s universities as examples of institutions that provided necessary support to students with autism.
Tim Farron
LD
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Farron echoed Abbott’s concerns about support for autistic children during pandemics, citing a case in his constituency where the delay in assessment had affected child development. He emphasised the need for proper resourcing of neurodevelopmental services.
Government Response
Dr Zubir Ahmed
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Government Response
Dr Ahmed acknowledged the importance of supporting autistic people during pandemics and commended Ivan's campaign. He also noted that the Government is working on improving pandemic preparedness and ensuring better support for vulnerable groups in future crises. Provided reassurance that the Government remains committed to learning from pandemic experiences. Acknowledged disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, discussed post-pandemic preparedness strategy, highlighted role of UK Health Security Agency in accessible communication, mentioned digital flagging for reasonable adjustments including autism identification, and outlined plans for early intervention support and integrated care services.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.