Mr. Simsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an inquiry into the Brook advisory centre's practices concerning the prescribing of birth control pills to young girls; if, pending the outcome of such inquiry, he will withhold further grants to the centre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe are kept fully informed of the national policies of Brook advisory centres, and on the information available to us we do not consider that such an inquiry is needed. The work of the 16 local Brook advisory centres is undertaken almost entirely on behalf of health authorities. I expect the authorities concerned to ensure that the Department's guidelines on the provision of contraceptive advice to young peope are followed. These emphasise the importance of clinic staff seeking to involve parents when they are approached for contraceptive advice by children under 16. The question of a continued Departmental grant to Brook advisory centres will next arise when the present grant expires next April.