§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Green Paper Cm. 3805, "New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", (p84), what is the rate of conceptions among girls aged under 16 years in the areas where the rate is highest, at present; and what it was in April 1997 and March 1998. [54594]
§ Ms HewittThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Steven Webb, dated 31 July 1998:
As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the rate of conceptions among girls aged under 16.The conception rates in 1996 for the three Health Authority Areas with the highest rates are shown in the table. Figures for 1997 and 1998 are not yet available.677W
Conception rates for girls aged under 16 in 1996 Health authority Rate per 1,000 girls aged 13–15 Sunderland 19.5 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 19.5 South Humber 18.3 Conception rates for the remaining Health Authority areas are published in the ONS Monitor Ref FM1 98/1 which is available in the House of Commons Library.