More still needs to be done to tackle teenage pregnancy

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 30th Jan 2008

The Government yesterday released a regional breakdown of teenage pregnancy rates showing a huge variation in progress between local areas. Commenting on the figures Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Children, Schools and Families, Annette Brooke MP said:

"I have congratulated the Government on having a unified teenage pregnancy strategy which attempts to co-ordinate and tackle both the causes and consequences of teenage pregnancy. The overall rate of teenage pregnancy in England is falling. Progress, however, is patchy and rates are still worryingly high.

"I would like particularly to congratulate Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth Local Authorities. All of these areas have seen a fall in rates since 1998. The rate of teenage pregnancies has fallen by over 28 per cent in Bournemouth and over 23 per cent in Poole. During her statement yesterday, the Minister highlighted Poole as an area demonstrating a marked improvement.

"However, the Government still needs to do more to ensure that all regions are making similar progress. Access to contraception and sexual health services must be improved across the country. In addition sex and relationships education should be made a compulsory part of the National Curriculum. Only by widening and improving PSHE can we hope to equip young people to make important life decisions."