4. After section 3A of the Autism Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (inserted by section 3), insert—
(1) The Minister must lay before the Assembly, for each financial year, a report (“an annual report”) setting out how the funding for autism, in respect of that year, took account of—
(a)the autism strategy,
(b)the prevalence of autism in children and adults,
(c)the needs of persons with autism,
(d)the needs of families and carers of persons with autism, and
(e)the potential for collaboration with bodies with an interest in promoting the rights of persons with autism.
(2) In this section “the funding for autism” means—
(a)in respect of the Department, the allocation of funding for health and social care, in so far as it relates to the autism strategy,
(b)in respect of the other Northern Ireland departments, the allocation of funding for that part of the autism strategy which falls within their responsibilities.
(3) The annual report must be laid within 6 months of the end of the financial year.
(4) The first annual report must be laid in respect of the financial year ending 31 March 2023.”.