§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which authorities hold lead responsibility at local level for the preparation and delivery of teenage pregnancy strategies. [63332]
§ Ms BlearsSince April 2001, every top tier local authority in England has a local teenage pregnancy strategy and rolling three-year action plan, developed jointly by health and local authority partners and agreed by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit in the Department. Responsibility for the implementation of the local strategy is held jointly by the local authority and relevant primary care trusts (PCTs).
Since April 2002, funding to support implementation of agreed local strategies has been routed to local authorities through a teenage pregnancy local implementation grant. The local authority is the accountable body and must take decisions on the expenditure of the grant to ensure that it
417Wis used to support the aims of the agreed local strategy. The local teenage pregnancy partnership board, with representation from the local authority, PCTs and key local partners, should make recommendations on the use of the grant and oversee implementation of the local action plan.