To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Social Work Statistics Branch Audit of Services for People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder which found that over 3,400 children have been identified as having autistic spectrum disorder and given that the condition was previously significantly less prevalent, whether the Minister for Health and Community Care will make a statement on this issue. In May 2002, during a parliamentarydebate on Autism Awareness Week, the then Deputy Minister for Health and CommunityCare made a statement about the Scottish Executive’s commitment to improving servicesfor people with autistic spectrum disorders and their families, through implementationof the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Needs Assessment Report.