§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost to the National Health Service of the National Health Service free contraceptive service.
§ Dr. VaughanIn 1979–80, expenditure in England on the National Health Service family planning service was about £48 million, of which some £17.5 million related to the cost of providing contraceptive devices and substances.
§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what channels of publicity he proposes to use in his campaign to motivate teenagers to use contraceptives; and if he proposes to use television advertising in the campaign.
§ Dr. VaughanFinal decisions on the publicity to be used by the Health Education Council in its campaign have not yet been taken, but it will probably consist mainly of 291W advertising in national newspapers and magazines read by teenagers. I gather that television advertising will not be used.
§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he intends to take steps to ensure that records are kept of the age of young people seeking contraceptives and what measures are taken to verify the accuracy of the ages given;
(2) if he will publish a set of clearly defined guidelines for those who instruct or counsel schoolchildren in sexual matters.
§ Dr. VaughanWe have recently reviewed the Department's guidance on family planning and have issued a revised section on young people. This emphasises that special care is needed in providing contraceptive advice and counselling for children under 16 not to undermine parental responsibility or family stability. It says that
it would be most unusual to provide advice about contraception without parental consent.It also suggests that those providing contraceptive advice for the young should be experienced in dealing with young people and their problems. I consider that this provides clear guidelines, and I do not think more detailed guidance, including verification of patients' ages, would be appropriate. Records of the ages of people attending NHS family planning clinics are already kept for statistical purposes.