Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Kelvin Hopkins (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 13 October 2008 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Teaching Life Skills

Question: Britain stands in stark contrast to many countries in continental Europe in these matters. For example, only a little while ago in Holland, there was one sixth the number of teenage pregnancies compared with Britain. Is my right hon. Friend looking into why those contrasts are so dramatic, and can we learn something from countries such as Holland that would serve to improve the situation in Britain?

Answer: Yes, indeed, I think that we can, and we have been looking at that quite closely. It is true that our relatively high teenage pregnancy rates in this country are long standing, and go back as far as records began, some 40 years ago. In making comparisons, a couple of factors might be associated with the different rates in different western countries. First, in Holland, there is much more acceptance by parents of the subject, and there is a freedom and lack of embarrassment among parents when talking to their children about sexual activity—much more so than here. Secondly, the quality and nature of the sex and relationship education in Dutch schools is something from which we can learn.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 480 c521
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Personal, social, health and economic education Teenage pregnancy Netherlands Curriculum Disadvantaged Secondary education
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk