Time to Deliver: Lords Autism Committee Highlights Urgent Need for Change
A Landmark Inquiry and Its Context
A House of Lords Special Inquiry Committee has released a major report titled “Time to Deliver: The Autism Act 2009 and the New Autism Strategy.” The Autism Act 2009 which was passed with cross-party support under a Labour government, was a critical step forward in recognising autistic people’s needs, but successive governments have failed to deliver real change. Sixteen years on, autistic people still face “unacceptable inequalities” that prevent them from living fulfilling lives and hold society back from being fully inclusive. The Committee’s extensive review, which heard from hundreds of autistic individuals, families, and experts, makes clear that a new approach is urgently needed.
Key statistics illustrate the scale of the challenge. Today, more than 200,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment, often for many months or years. Thousands of autistic children are unhappy in school or have been forced out of education altogether. Only about 3 in 10 autistic people are in employment, compared to 5 in 10 disabled people and 8 in 10 non-disabled people. And alarmingly, autistic people on average live shorter lives than the general population. These outcomes, the Committee finds, are symptomatic of systemic failures – gaps in support, lack of understanding, and policies that have not been properly implemented. As one conclusion put it, the Autism Act’s promise has “not translated into better long-term outcomes” for autistic people, which is simply unacceptable after 16 years.
Findings: Systemic Barriers and Missed Promises
The Committee’s report gives a frank assessment: successive governments have failed to address the systemic barriers faced by autistic people in everyday life. Although the Autism Act mandates a government strategy with statutory guidance for the NHS and local authorities, there has been no effective plan or funding beyond the first year of the 2021–2026 strategy. This failure to implement means that even well-meaning goals remain just aspirations. Autistic individuals and their families continue to face inconsistent support, unsuitable services, and a “cliff edge' at adulthood. The Committee heard evidence of serious consequences: missed opportunities, unmet health and mental health needs, and lives cut short. The message is clear—small adjustments are insufficient; genuine change is needed.
A striking theme is how often autistic people are excluded from decisions about them. Too often, choices about support, education or care are made for autistic people, not with them. The report stresses that this must change: “Nothing about us without us.” Public understanding and acceptance of autism, while better than in 2009, still lag far behind. Many autistic people do not feel accepted or understood in their communities, and public spaces are frequently inaccessible or overwhelming. The Committee notes that an inclusive society for autistic people benefits everyone – a point long championed by autism advocates and the Labour Party alike.
Key Recommendations: A New Strategy by 2026
The headline recommendation is for the government to develop a new National Autism Strategy by July 2026 (when the current strategy expires). Crucially, this strategy must be co-designed with autistic people at every stage, not just for them. The Committee calls this meaningful involvement of autistic individuals and their families “critical to the strategy’s success.” In practice, that means autistic voices helping shape policies from the ground up – a principle Labour strongly endorses as part of its commitment to disability rights and co-production.
Beyond calling for a new strategy, the report lays out concrete steps to tackle the long-standing issues across health, education, employment and more. Key recommendations include:
Improve public understanding and professional training: Launch a nationwide initiative to increase understanding and acceptance of autism, backed by mandatory autism and neurodiversity training for all public service staff. Frontline workers – from GPs to teachers – should know how to support autistic people.
Clear accountability in services: Ensure all public bodies meet their duties to autistic people, with strong accountability under equality law and named leads in local authorities and the NHS responsible for autism support. No agency should be able to shirk its responsibility.
Reduce diagnosis waiting times and offer stepped support: Invest to dramatically cut autism assessment waiting times. At the same time, move away from the current “cliff-edge” approach to diagnosis. The Committee urges a new stepped model of identification, assessment and lifelong support, so that people can get some help without needing a full diagnosis, and support can “step up” or “step down” as needs change.
Integrated health and social care: Develop a national framework linking healthcare and community support services for autistic people. Too often, support falls through gaps between mental health services, social care, and other providers. A joined-up approach, including rolling out annual NHS health checks for autistic people, will help reduce the severe health inequalities autistic adults face.
Inclusive education and smoother transitions: Make schools and colleges more autism-friendly. This means better support for autistic pupils in all educational settings, and using high-performing specialist schools as hubs of expertise to train and advise others. Young autistic people also need help well into early adulthood – the report calls for dedicated services to guide transitions from school to further education, work, and independent living.
Boost employment opportunities: With unemployment and underemployment alarmingly high, the Committee seeks a “significant increase” in the employment rate of autistic people. Proposals include expanding supported internship and employment programs, setting new standards for employers to make workplaces more accessible, and providing incentives for employers to hire and accommodate autistic talent.
Criminal justice reforms: Ensure autistic individuals are treated fairly in the justice system. The government should implement all recommendations from the 2021 review on neurodiversity in the criminal justice system, including better identification of autistic people in police custody and courts, and training for staff across policing, courts and prisons. This would help autistic people who are victims or witnesses, as well as those who offend, to get appropriate support and adjustments.
Across all these areas, a consistent thread is the need for early, preventative support. Investing in low-level support now – for example, social groups, employment coaching, or respite for families – can prevent crises later. The Committee notes that too many autistic people receive no help until they reach a breaking point, which “costs money and lives”. A shift toward prevention and early intervention would not only improve quality of life but also save public resources in the long run.
Implications: A Call to Action
This House of Lords inquiry amassed nearly 400 written submissions – more than any Lords inquiry ever – reflecting an enormous groundswell of public concern. The findings amount to a bold but sensible roadmap for change. Implementing these recommendations would transform countless lives: helping autistic children thrive in school, enabling autistic adults to find jobs and live independently, and ensuring no one is left behind because they are autistic. As the report bluntly states, the evidence of “long-term systemic failure is undeniable, and the need for change is stronger than ever.”
Labour’s leadership and commitment to autism advocacy shines through in its response to this report. Labour figures have long pushed for many of these measures – from improved special educational needs support to ending the scandal of autistic people stuck in mental health hospitals. The Committee’s work, supported by Labour peers among others, aligns with the party’s ethos that society should be inclusive and empowering for all. It is telling that the Autism Act 2009 itself originated with cross-party support during a Labour government, and today Labour remains resolute in upholding its spirit.
The government is required by law to respond to the Committee’s recommendations within two months. This response, and the actions that follow, will show whether the current administration is serious about addressing what one charity has called “systemic Government failure” for autistic people. The Committee’s Chair, Baroness Rock, put it clearly: “The Government must now use our findings to fulfil its commitment to bring forward the new autism strategy on time in July 2026… Autistic people deserve nothing less.”. An upcoming House of Lords debate on the report will keep up the pressure, as Labour and other peers unite with autistic people and allies to demand progress.
This inquiry’s report is a rallying cry. It makes evident that with the right political will – and by listening to autistic people – we can build a society where autistic children and adults get the support, understanding and opportunities they deserve. Labour stands ready to champion that cause. The time to deliver is now, and as this report shows, doing so will benefit not only autistic people, but all of us.
