HC Deb 30 March 1983 vol 40 c202W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that general practitioners and National Health Service family planning clinics are being adequately informed about the need for, and methods of, post-coital contraception in order to encourage its proper and responsible use.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The handbook of contraceptive practice which was distributed by the Department to all general practitioners and is widely circulated among family planning interests contains advice on hormonal methods of post-coital contraception. This will be expanded and up-dated in the revised version of the handbook now being prepared. Also, the family planning information service is to mount a campaign shortly on post-coital contraception which will be aimed partly at informing the medical profession about available methods.

Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that adequate contraceptive advice is given to encourage boys to use family planning services.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The Health Education Council published a series of advertisements last year aimed at encouraging responsible attitudes to sex in young people and one of these was specifically aimed at boys. The council is considering what further work needs to be done in this area.