Baroness Vickersasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking to improve NHS family planning and pregnancy counselling services for young people.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Baroness Trumpington)The Government are concerned to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy among young people, and to encourage them to seek advice early if they suspect they are pregnant. To aid the further development of health services in this area, we shall be inviting interested health authorities to submit proposals for projects to provide a family planning and pregnancy counselling service specifically for young people under 25. Where teenagers are concerned such services must take account of the need not to undermine family stablility or relationships between parents and their children. These requirements will be fully considered before projects are approved. We would hope to select three projects which would be district-based, and funded centrally for a three-year period starting in this financial year.
548WAThe projects will be evaluated and we hope that the findings will help health authorities generally in providing services appropriate to this age group.