§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to promote sexual health initiatives with young people; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe White Paper, "The Health of the Nation", includes the challenging target to reduce the rate of conceptions amongst the under-16s by at least 50 per cent. by the year 2000. Measures which are effective in substantially reducing pregnancies in the under-16s can be expected to have a similar effect on unwanted pregnancies in the over-16s.
A range of initiatives is underway both nationally and locally to support progress towards "The Health of the Nation" targets and objectives. Guidance to the national health service draws attention to the need for separate, less formal family planning services for young people, with staff experienced in dealing with the particular needs of this group and their problems. Progress in the NHS is being monitored. The family planning section of the HIV/AIDS and sexual health key area handbook, published by the Department in January 1993 and issued to all health authorities, focuses on the best ways of providing effective services, particularly for young people, and includes many examples of good practice. It also suggests that health authorities responsible for purchasing health care should consider commissioning at least two clinic sessions per week dedicated to young people. A copy is available in the Library.
The White Paper makes clear that everyone—parents, health services, local authorities, the voluntary and 224W educational sectors and the Government—need to work together to achieve "The Health of the Nation" targets. We particularly welcome in this context my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education's decision to issue last month for consultation a draft revised circular on sex education in schools.
Grants have been awarded to enable voluntary organisations to carry forward projects related to the aims of "The Health of the Nation" White Paper. These organisations include the Family Planning Association and Brook Advisory Centres, which provide services directly to young people under 25. In addition to the provision of designated young people's health care services, there is a need for effective sexual health education programmes. With this in mind, a new three-year project grant has been awarded to the Sex Education Forum to facilitate the development of a centralised information network for all those involved in sex education.
The Department will be looking further at ways in which the quality and range of family planning services may be developed and improved. This includes addressing issues such as training, the provision of better information for patients, and how best to meet the needs of young people.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what sexual health targets are set by health authorities; and how these are decided.
§ Mr. Sackville"The Health of the Nation" White Paper sets challenging targets for improvement in the key area of sexual health. National health service authorities are already acting to implement the recommendations in "First Steps for the NHS" and will be working with the National Health Service Management Executive to apply the national targets at regional and, where appropriate, district and family health service authority level.