Awful legacy of teen pregnancies

Letter: After 13 years in power Labour's policy to tackle Britain's awful record of western Europe's teenage pregnancy capital is in tatters.

Tony Blair said in 1999 that Labour had a target to slash in half the number of teen pregnancies by 2012.

But new figures say 40 per 1,000 under-18s still fall pregnant, compared with a figure in 1998 of 46 per 1,000. This is after spending more than £285m on contraception and sex education, despite this dismal outcome

I think one of the main reasons behind Britain's high rate of teenage pregnancy is the breakdown of the family unit. This has been fuelled by Government policies, such as the end of tax relief for married couples, also accommodation and large handouts to lone parents. The consequences are there for all to see in rising rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

It is time for old values like personal respect, dignity and responsibility to be taught again.

P B Johnston

Shrewsbury