§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards the target of "The Health of the Nation" to reduce teenage conceptions. [3069]
§ Mr. SackvilleRecently published figures show that conception rates among girls under 16 have fallen for the third year running and by a fifth over those three years. While conception rates are still high by international standards, this encouraging reduction has reversed the upward trend of the 1980s and reflects valuable work on the part of all those who provide help and advice to young people. Further sustained effort will be necessary to maintain the downward trend towards the target of "The Health of the Nation".