Teenage pregnancy rates fall but target is missed

More than 41,000 girls aged under 18 fell pregnant in 2008 – a fall of three per cent on the previous 12 months and a 13 per cent decline since 1998.

The size of the fall means the Government is significantly off its target to reduce numbers by 50 per cent by 2010.

Yorkshire still has some of the highest conception rates in England. In Hull 68.7 girls per 1,000 aged 15-17 became pregnant in 2008, followed by Doncaster with 68.6 per 1,000, where rates rose significantly from 60.2 per 1,000 in 2007.

Only Lambeth and Lewisham in London and Manchester had higher rates.

In Yorkshire the rate of 47.3 per 1,000 girls was second only to the North East where it was 49.0. Of the 4,700 pregnancies in Yorkshire, 44 per cent led to terminations.

Nationally the rate of conceptions stood at 40.4 per 1,000, compared with 46.6 in 1998.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls defended the Government's record on teenage pregnancies but conceded it was going to be "really hard" to achieve the 50 per cent reduction.

He claimed measures to tackle teenage pregnancies were being successful. "But it is not enough. I'm still worried about it and there is a lot more to do," he said.

Gill Frances, chair of the Teenage Pregnancy Independent Advisory Group, said she was pleased figures were back on a downward trend after a slight rise in 2007.

"This is the lowest rate for 20 years and it reflects the intensive work that is going on around the country," she added.

Children's Minister Dawn Primarolo launched plans including piloting one-to-one sexual health and contraception consultations for 16-year-olds alongside more support for parents and teachers and more school-based services.

"Teenage pregnancy is no longer a rising problem," she said. "It is important that we recognise the progress made by many areas in driving down teenage pregnancy rates.

"Last year's increase was very disappointing so I am particularly pleased that these statistics put us back on track."