We accept this recommendation in principle. We agree and expect that care must be person-centred in line with the elements that the Committee has recommended. However, we do not accept the recommendation that all mental health inpatient units used by people with a learning disability and autistic people should be closed within two years. We have set out the reasons for this below. As set out in response to recommendation 3, we are clear that we only want people to be admitted to inpatient settings where this offers a clear, therapeutic benefit. Where this is the case, it should be for the shortest time possible. Our proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act will support this aim and will drive an overall reduction in the number of people detained in inpatient settings. As set out in our draft Mental Health Bill, our proposed reforms will mean people with a learning disability and autistic people (who have not been admitted through the criminal justice system) will only be able to be detained for treatment under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act if they have a co-occurring mental health condition. This will limit the scope to detain people with a learning disability or autistic people under the Act and mean that they cannot be detained for longer than 28 days under Section 2, unless they have a co-occurring mental health condition which requires treatment in hospital. 18 The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities: Government Response Where an admission for treatment does not meet these criteria, it must not take place. We want to ensure that there are no inappropriate admissions, including as a result of a lack of community support. As outlined in our response to recommendation 2, and in detail in our draft Mental Health Bill, we are proposing reforms to the Mental Health Act which include placing new duties on Integrated Care Boards and local authority commissioners to ensure an adequate supply of local, community-based support for people with a learning disability and autistic people at risk of admission. We want to ensure people receive the right care and support which is based on their needs and close to friends and family, enabling them to live full lives in the community. Chapter 3 of the Building the Right Support action plan sets out the wide range of actions we are taking to make this happen. As the Committee noted in recommendation 3, it is also important to retain some inpatient capacity to meet the needs of people with a learning disability and autistic people in defined circumstances in future, including for forensic inpatient care. This is so that people with a learning disability or autistic people who come into contact with the criminal justice system have a safe and appropriate alternative to prison. The Assuring Transformation data set shows that in May 2022, 92% of people with a learning disability and autistic people who are in mental health hospitals were detained under the Mental Health Act. Of this 92%, 27% of people were detained under Part III forensic sections with restrictions and 11% under Part III without restrictions. Whilst the action plan seeks to reduce these numbers, we expect to continue to require some capacity for restricted patients in the future. When people with a learning disability and autistic people do need to be admitted to a mental health inpatient setting, we are taking action to ensure their care and treatment is of high quality. Chapter 1 of the Building the Right Support action plan sets out our actions in detail. This includes ensuring the environment best meets a person’s needs. For example, NHSE invested in three initiatives in 2021 to 2022 (as part of COVID-19 Mental Health Recovery Funding) which: • funded some mental health trusts to reduce common sensory aversions for autistic people in inpatient mental health settings • commissioned the University of Reading to develop an evidence- and community-informed sensory assessment tool to improve staff ability to assess and accommodate for sensory sensitivities in inpatient settings • commissioned the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) to refresh the Green Light Toolkit, an audit framework designed to identify opportunities for improving inpatient settings We welcome the more robust approach that the CQC is taking to inspecting learning disability and autism services to ensure that providers meet expectations for high quality care. They have already taken significant action against services that are poorly performing, as set out in paragraph 1.49. On 21 July 2021, we published our response to the recommendations made by the CQC in its ‘Out of Sight - who cares?’ report. In our response, we confirmed agreement, in full or in principle, to all of the recommendations made which named DHSC as the lead. Work is underway to implement these recommendations. The treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities: Government Response 19 As part of its role to br