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Schoolgirl Pregnancies

Volume 29: debated on Thursday 28 October 1982

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asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the answer of the Minister for Health on 21 July, Official Report, c. 183, that 8,100 girls under 16 years old became pregnant in England and Wales in 1979, if he will issue advice to local education authorities on appropriate action to help prevent schoolgirl pregnancies.

We issued guidance in our document "The School Curriculum", published in March 1981, which emphasised the importance of close co-operation and consultation between parents and schools in meeting the need for sound sex education. We have at present no plans to publish further advice to local education authorities on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities in the United Kingdom which provide special units for the daytime education of pregnant schoolgirls and schoolgirl mothers.

This information is not collected centrally. It is for individual local education authorities to decide, in the light of local circumstances, what educational provision to make for girls of school age who become pregnant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the numbers of pregnant schoolgirls in the United Kingdom who were educated primarily(a)at a special education unit,(b)at home and(c)at a normal school.