7.5% London Teenage Pregnancy Rise Masks Massive Borough Increases - Hughes

12.01.00am GMT Mon 8th Mar 2004

A new analysis of the latest teenage pregnancy figures released by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit by London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes shows that the number of under eighteen pregnancies in London has jumped by 7.66% in the last two years.

The figures also mask wide variations in the increases between each London Borough. Outer London faced an increase of almost 10% increase. This compared to just a 1.2% across England and Wales. Twenty London Boroughs experienced increases higher than the country average.

The five London Boroughs with the highest pregnancy increases between 2000-2002 (the latest figures published) were:

Enfield with an increase of 40.28%.

Harrow with an increase of 36.9%.

Redbridge with an increase of 33.63%.

Bexley with an increase of 23.74%.

Barnet with an increase of 18.83%.

Simon said: "It is deeply concerning that in the last two years so many outer London Boroughs have experienced increases well above the national average. It appears that in some areas the teenage pregnancy strategy is failing to get through to young people."

"The Government and local health authorities must accept that this increase in the teen pregnancy rate is not just a 'blip'. Ministers must think more carefully about its approach on this issue and make sure that young people have all the facts to hand and the support they need."