HC Deb 12 July 2002 vol 388 cc1260-3W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which voluntary groups are assisting the Government develop and deliver its teenage pregnancy strategy. [66711]

Ms Blears

The teenage pregnancy unit has invited a wide range of voluntary organisations to become members of a non-statutory forum, which meets twice a year. The organisations are listed below.

  • ACET
  • Barnados
  • Black Health Agency
  • British Pregnancy Advisory Service

  • Brook
  • The Children's Society
  • Crisis
  • Education for Choice
  • Fathers Direct
  • The Foyer Federation
  • fpa
  • Gingerbread
  • Girls Friendly Society
  • The Guide Association
  • Health Action for Homeless People
  • Homestart
  • Image in Action
  • Marie Scopes International
  • Maternity Alliance
  • National Association of Governors and Managers
  • National Childbirth Trust
  • National Children's Bureau
  • National Children's Home
  • National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations
  • National Family and Parenting Institute
  • National Foster Carers Association
  • National Housing Federation
  • National Newpin
  • National Council for One Parent Families
  • National Pyramid Trust
  • NSPCC
  • Parentline Plus
  • Parenting. Education and Support Forum
  • PIPPIN
  • The Princes Trust
  • Relate
  • Save the Children
  • Trust for the Study of Adolescence
  • Working with Men
  • YMCA
  • YWCA

Professionals from the voluntary sector also attend the independent advisory group on teenage pregnancy where, in their personal capacity, they provide advice on the teenage pregnancy strategy.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the religious organisations which are involved in helping the Government deliver their teenage pregnancy strategy; and if he will make a statement on their role. [66707]

Ms Blears

Development of the teenage pregnancy strategy was informed by consultation with individuals and organisations representing a wide range of faiths.

To ensure on-going dialogue with faith groups during the implementation of the strategy, the teenage pregnancy unit has established an inter-faith forum. The forum meets twice a year to discuss particular aspects of the teenage pregnancy strategy, to consider what role faith members can play in supporting its implementation and to share examples of work in practice with faith communities. The forum has over 40 members and includes representation from the following faiths.

  • Church of England
  • Roman Catholic
  • Methodist
  • Moslem
  • Hindu
  • Jewish

In addition to the inter-faith forum, there are two members of the independent advisory group on teenage pregnancy who provide advice on the strategy from a faith perspective.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the funding mechanisms and funding streams for the delivery of his teenage pregnancy strategy. [66704]

Ms Blears

Since April 2002, funding to support implementation of local teenage pregnancy strategies has been routed to top tier local authorities through the teenage pregnancy local implementation grant. The resources support locally agreed teenage pregnancy strategies and action plans, developed jointly by health and local authority partners, with the aim of pump-priming promising approaches and new developments, and facilitating effective local co-ordina-tion. The local teenage pregnancy partnership board, with representation from the local authority, primary care trusts (PCTs) and other key local partners, make recommendations on the use of the grant and oversee implementation of the local action plan.

Local teenage pregnancy partnership boards also liaise with the local authorities, PCTs, and other local organisations to secure additional mainstream sources of funding to support implementation of the strategy.

In addition to the local implementation grant, the teenage pregnancy strategy is supported by other relevant Government initiatives such as the Connexions service, neighbourhood renewal and the children's fund, and funding from other Government Departments, including: teenage pregnancy standards fund to support school age parents in continuing with their education; sure start plus and childcare pilots to provide better support for pregnant teenagers and teenage parents; approved funding from the housing corporation for 1,500 new units of supported housing for teenage parents.

Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding the Government are making available for reducing teenage conceptions, broken down by non-statutory group funded in the current financial year. [66710]

Ms Blears

During this financial year, we are investing £16 million to support the implementation of local teenage pregnancy strategies which will include, at local discretion, the involvement of the voluntary sector, and a further £900,000 to support regional coordination. An additional £4 million will be invested in the teenage pregnancy strategy national campaign which includes the provision of the sexwise helpline, through the Essentia Group, and funding for Parentline Plus. In addition, a small number of projects undertaken by non-statutory organisations are supported at national level and are listed below.

£
National Family and Parenting Institute, for consultation with parents. 37,000
GFS Platform Great Yarmouth, for a conference on young parents. 5,000
National Children's Bureau, for consultation with young people and to support further developments in Personal Social and Health Education, including Sex and Relationship Education. 68,000
Brook, for the development of a quality assurance framework for youth contraceptive services. £20,000

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