More must be done to reduce teenage pregnancies

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Aug 2006

Commenting on the statistics released today regarding the number of teenage pregnancies, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP said:

"Although any decrease in unplanned teenage pregnancies is obviously welcome, the Government is still a long way from its target.

"As money for sexual health services is siphoned off to pay the NHS's debts, there is a real danger that this progress will be reversed.

"The Government should also be doing more to tackle the underlying problems by making appropriate personal, social and health education compulsory in schools.

"We live in a world where we are bombarded with sexual images, so it is all the more important that young people are given the correct education to enable them to confidently handle situations where they feel under pressure."