§ Baroness Blatchasked Her Majesty's Government:
"Why the social exclusion report "Teenage Pregnancy" quoted a number of research projects such as Kirby et al, Reducing the risk, 1991: and Vincent et al, School and community program for sexual risk reduction amongst teens, 1987, which had been described by the Social Science Research Unit as methodologically unsound. [HL3997]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonAs with previous reports, the Social Exclusion Unit's report on teenage pregnancy was informed by a very wide range of research, data and consultation. The studies mentioned are included in a number of reviews of effectiveness which draw together evidence from here and abroad. The need to improve evaluation for future programmes will be taken into account in developing the research and evaluation programme announced in the report.
§ Baroness Coxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Social Exclusion Unit report Teenage Pregnancy omitted any reference to the findings of the Review of Effectiveness of Sexual Health Promotion Intervention for Young People carried out, with public funding, by Professor Oakley and her colleagues at the Social Science Research Unit, University of London Institute of Education and published in March 1996. [HL3786]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Social Exclusion Unit is aware of the work of Professor Oakley and the Social Science Research Unit and refers to the 1994 Review of Effectiveness in Annex 3 of the report on teenage pregnancy. Unfortunately, the 1996 review, unlike its predecessor, was not published in the peer review journals or disseminated through the usual channels. However, I will ensure that the teenage pregnancy unit in the Department of Health, who are taking forward the action in the report, have access to a copy of the 1996 review.