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Opinion,
Comment & Reviews
Abortion politics |
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Parliamentary
References on Reproductive Health
January 2001
The following information
has been kindly supplied by Amanda Callaghan, Public Affairs
Manager, BPAS.
Emergency Contraception Provision
Shona McIsaac MP asked the Secretary of State for Health
if he will make a statement on the provision of emergency
contraception.
Yvette Cooper MP (Minister for Public Health) replied
that there have been a number of recent initiatives that should
ensure improved access to emergency contraception products.
We laid an Order before the House on Monday 11 December to
make progestogen the only emergency contraception available
as a pharmacy medicine. Also, in addition to the usual NHS
routes of access for women of all ages, other health professionals
such as nurses and pharmacists are now able to supply emergency
contraception using a patient group direction, following a
clarification to medicines legislation in August.
Written answer 9 January 2001
Teenage pregnancy
Sex education
Jim Cunningham MP asked the Secretary of State for Education
and Employment if he will take steps to ensure that impartial
information on abortion and early motherhood is made available
to pupils in schools as a part of their sex education.
Jacqui Smith MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
replied that in July 2000 we issued new sex and relationship
education guidance for schools. The guidance explains that
secondary schools should teach, among other things, about
the responsibilities and the consequences of becoming a young
parent and the arguments for delaying sexual activity. It
also emphasises that there are strongly held views and religious
beliefs about abortion and that the religious convictions
of pupils and their parents should be respected.
The guidance also makes it clear that teaching throughout
this area of the curriculum should be impartial and should
not be influenced by teachers' own beliefs and attitudes.
Written answer 9 January 2001
Teenage Pregnancies
Jim Cunningham MP asked the Secretary of State for
Health what action the Government are taking to ensure that
pregnant teenagers receive free impartial advice about (a)
abortion and (b) motherhood.
Yvette Cooper MP replied that on 2 January she announced
15 Sure Start Plus pilots. These are new programmes in health
action zones with high teenage pregnancy rates and where there
are Sure Start programmes that will start delivering services
over the next few months. In these pilot areas, personal advisers
will ensure that pregnant teenagers have access to comprehensive
and impartial advice and counselling in the early stages of
pregnancy so they are able to make informed decisions, including
whether to continue with the pregnancy, adoption or abortion.
The personal advisers will also co-ordinate a support package
for new parents, both mothers and fathers, tailored to their
individual needs, to help them back into education and employment
as well as with healthcare and parenting.
In all other areas, local teenage pregnancy co-ordinators
will shortly be developing comprehensive service checklists,
as part of local co-ordinated teenage pregnancy strategies
between health and local authorities. These will be aimed
at young people and professionals whose client groups include
young people, and will include details of local services that
provide early advice and counselling to pregnant teenagers,
and services that provide a range of support, including parenting
skills, to teenage parents.
Written answer 9 January 20
Sexual health
Chlamydia
Harry Cohen MP asked the Secretary of State for Health
to summarise the result of the pilot studies on Chlamydia;
and to make a statement.
Yvette Cooper MP replied that the pilot study only
finished in September we are still analysing the results.
The final report is expected in the spring and this will be
used to help develop national policy via the sexual health
and HIV strategy and the National Screening Committee.
Parliamentary References on Reproductive Health is produced
by British Pregnancy Advisory Service. For further information
please contact Amanda Callaghan, Public Affairs Manager, Communications
Department BPAS 26-27 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3HP 020
7612 0206 amanda@bpas.org
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