Better education and workplace training opportunities should be provided for young people with autism and Asperger syndrome, the Commons has heard.
Conservative Lee Scott proposed a ten minute rule bill on education and training for young people with autism.
Introducing his Education and Training (Young People with Autism) Bill to the Commons, the Ilford North MP set out proposals to introduce a pilot scheme with partners to allow companies to employ such young people, enabling them to train and to achieve the "best possible future".
He said: "One of the biggest worries for parents who have children with autism, Asperger's or indeed any other special needs, is what happens when they are no longer here. Will the young person when they become an adult be able to look after themselves? Will they have gainful employment?"
Scott told MPs: "If we don't start getting involved in helping, then we are truly letting down some of the most vulnerable people in our society."
With reference to figures from the National Autistic Society (NAS), he said there were more than 350,000 working age adults with autism in the UK.
He said its research had found that whilst many people with autism wanted to work, "just some 15 per cent" were in full-time paid employment, with nine per cent in part-time employment.
Scott added that 79 per cent of people with autism on incapacity benefit wanted to work, but needed some support to get into employment.
One in three people with autism was without any financial support through employment or through the benefits system, with many reliant on their families.
Scott also referred to a study carried out by Research Autism in 2008 for NAS Prospects London on the experiences of employing people with autism, that found seven in 10 employers questioned had a very positive experience of employing people with autism, Asperger’s or other related conditions, and said that they would recommend it to others.
The Bill will be read a second time on Friday January 20, but stands little chance of becoming law due to a lack of parliamentary time.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd