Burnley MP Peter Pike has backed the government drive to cut teenage pregnancies despite the fact that it involves offering contraceptives and advice on sexual matters to under 16s.

But he has expressed concern that under-18 mums are to be refused council flats and put into supervised accommodation that some have branded "hostels".

Regardless of the fact that many Catholics and Evangelicals are opposed to contraception and to sex education for the young, the devout Anglican said: "I don't personally believe teenagers get pregnant because sex education. It happens because of ignorance about sex."

Mr Pike spoke out as the government revealed that his constituency was among the worst 10 per cent in England and Wales for teenage conceptions.

Figures for 1997 showed that there were 72 pregnancies per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 17, making it the 10th worst among 350 local authority areas with Hyndburn 24th in the table with 66 conceptions per 1,000.

Both areas are likely to get extra cash for effective and accessible NHS contraceptive services for youngsters.

Doctors and nurses will be told to give confidential advice on contraception to sexually active under-16s without parental consent.

On the supervised accommodation proposal, Mr Pike said: "I would have some reservations about that."

He welcomed the overall plan which involves a national publicity campaign to tell teenagers how hard it is to be parents and how easy it is to get pregnant and to warn young men of their responsibilities over sex and that they will be made to pay for their children when they start to earn.

It will also involve putting young women with children who cannot live with their families into supervised and supported accommodation.

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