§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the change in the proportion of women under 16 years of age becoming pregnant since the introduction of free contraceptive advice.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1984, c. 634.]: Free contraceptive services became available from NHS clinics in April 1974 and from general practitioners and pharmacists in July 1975. The estimated rate of conceptions per 1,000 girls aged 13 to 15 in England and Wales fell from 9.1 in 1973 to 7.2 in 1981. These rates take account of births and abortions to girls aged 16 which are likely to have been the result of conceptions occurring before the 16th birthday.