Teenage Pregnancies

Oral Answers to Questions — Health – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 June 1999.

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Photo of Dr Jenny Tonge Dr Jenny Tonge Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park 12:00, 8 June 1999

When he expects to publish the report of the social exclusion unit on teenage pregnancies. [84999]

Photo of Dr Jenny Tonge Dr Jenny Tonge Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park

I thank the Minister for that welcome reply, although I wonder what the word "shortly" means. Does he share my shame that this country has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe? Does he connect that in any way with the reduction in the number of family planning clinics and the very poor quality of sex education over the past 18 years?

Does the hon. Gentleman also recall that there was no mention of teenagers' sexual health or of teenage pregnancies in the Green Paper "Our Healthier Nation"? We have waited longer than two years for the social exclusion unit report, and it will be at least another year before the report on teenagers' sexual health is ready. When will we see some action?

Photo of John Hutton John Hutton Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health)

In my earlier response to my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston (Ms Hughes), I described those areas in which the Government are already taking action to deal with some of the problems arising from sexual health and pregnancies among teenagers. The hon. Lady is usually right, but she was wrong to say that we have waited two years for the social exclusion unit report. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister commissioned that report last July, and we expect it to be published very soon.

However, I agree that action needs to be taken to reduce teenage pregnancies, which are four times more common here than in France, and six times more common than in the Netherlands. That is not acceptable, as a consequence of teenage pregnancies is social exclusion at a crucial time in young women's lives. The Government are taking action. We have announced the formation of a national comprehensive strategy, led by an expert task group, whose composition will be announced shortly. The Government are committed to taking action, and are doing so.

Photo of John Healey John Healey Labour, Wentworth

Before finalising his plans for reducing teenage pregnancies, would my hon. Friend encourage health authorities to consider the lessons learned in pioneering baby-doll projects run in Rawmarsh and Wath-upon-Dearne? Fourteen-year-olds are given life-like dolls to look after, and the dolls wake at night, scream, feed and much more. Half those who took part in the projects said that the age at which they would wish to have children was a lot higher than it had been beforehand. Will my hon. Friend congratulate the Rotherham youth workers, Karen Kirby, Ann Brown, Pat Hickling and Sue White, on pioneering the projects?

Photo of John Hutton John Hutton Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Health, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health)

I am happy to endorse what my hon. Friend has said about that work. The experience of young children to which he has referred was certainly my own experience when I first became a father. My hon. Friend confirms that action is already being taken up and down the country. Many health action zones are doing pioneering work to develop new approaches to tackling teenage pregnancy. We support that work, and we want to spread best practice around the country.