§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research has been conducted on assistance the Government might provide to pregnant asylum seekers who have been raped as a consequence of war; and if he will make a statement on support services for teenage asylum seekers who are victims of rape. [131959]
§ Margaret HodgeOn 16 July 2003 my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education pledged to commission research into the support networks of pregnant teenage asylum seekers,Official Report, column 95WH. Information gained from upcoming national events, organised by the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Unit, will identify areas that require further research, which can be addressed in the near future.
In relation to support services, adult and child pregnant asylum seekers who have been raped as a consequence of war have the same rights of access to the national health service and its specialist services as their peers.
The Government is currently considering how to improve the provision of interpreting services in the UK in addition to providing language support services for NHS Direct. This work is due to be completed by the end of 2003 and a contract for services will be in place by early 2004.