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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Outcry over teenage father case | Outcry over teenage father case |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The case of the 13-year-old who has fathered a baby highlights a worrying trend of "children having children", the Tory leader has said. | The case of the 13-year-old who has fathered a baby highlights a worrying trend of "children having children", the Tory leader has said. |
| David Cameron was speaking after Alfie Patten's girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, gave birth on Monday. | David Cameron was speaking after Alfie Patten's girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, gave birth on Monday. |
| Latest figures from UK National Statistics show there were 7,826 conceptions in under-16s in 2006 - down 1,000 from 10 years earlier. | Latest figures from UK National Statistics show there were 7,826 conceptions in under-16s in 2006 - down 1,000 from 10 years earlier. |
| Sexual health experts said teens should be encouraged to have "ambition". | Sexual health experts said teens should be encouraged to have "ambition". |
| Children's Secretary Ed Balls said it was an "awful" and "unusual" case. | |
| "I want those kids to be safe and also the young child as well, and I want us to do everything we can as a society to make sure we keep teenage pregnancies coming down," he said. | |
| Mr Cameron said: "It is really worrying in our country today you've got children having children - and obviously we all hope that these very, very young children will grow up and be good parents, but frankly parenthood isn't something they should be thinking about. | |
| "That's what's gone wrong and we've got to put it right." | |
| In some of the more difficult communities, this has become pretty much the norm Iain Duncan Smith, Centre for Social Justice Support for 'boy' fatherFather at 14 'changed my future' | |
| Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who now runs the Centre for Social Justice said it "exemplified the point we have been making about broken Britain". | Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who now runs the Centre for Social Justice said it "exemplified the point we have been making about broken Britain". |
| He told the BBC the problem of teenage pregnancies was concentrated in certain communities. | He told the BBC the problem of teenage pregnancies was concentrated in certain communities. |
| "Quite often what fails to recognise is that in some of the more difficult communities, this has become pretty much the norm. | "Quite often what fails to recognise is that in some of the more difficult communities, this has become pretty much the norm. |
| "I've visited many estates where there are very huge collections of very young mothers, often with multiple children - and often 'guesting fathers'. | "I've visited many estates where there are very huge collections of very young mothers, often with multiple children - and often 'guesting fathers'. |
| "This is a major problem in the UK." | "This is a major problem in the UK." |
| No prosecution | No prosecution |
| The teenagers, both from Eastbourne, had kept the pregnancy secret until Chantelle's mother Penny noticed her daughter was getting bigger. | The teenagers, both from Eastbourne, had kept the pregnancy secret until Chantelle's mother Penny noticed her daughter was getting bigger. |
| Chantelle had her baby in Eastbourne District General Hospital, and is now home with her family. | Chantelle had her baby in Eastbourne District General Hospital, and is now home with her family. |
| Sussex Police said no action would be taken with it "not in anyone's interests" to prosecute. | Sussex Police said no action would be taken with it "not in anyone's interests" to prosecute. |
| East Sussex County Council said the teenage parents will be supported with intensive monitoring and health visitor support. | East Sussex County Council said the teenage parents will be supported with intensive monitoring and health visitor support. |
| We know that life as a teenage parent is hard Beverley Hughes, children and young people's minister | We know that life as a teenage parent is hard Beverley Hughes, children and young people's minister |
| Tony Kerridge, a spokesman for the sexual health specialist Marie Stopes International, said: "These sorts of lifestyle choices can be dealt with on an educational level if teenage girls realise what they are contemplating is a route into social deprivation and being in the benefits culture for the rest of their lives. | Tony Kerridge, a spokesman for the sexual health specialist Marie Stopes International, said: "These sorts of lifestyle choices can be dealt with on an educational level if teenage girls realise what they are contemplating is a route into social deprivation and being in the benefits culture for the rest of their lives. |
| "It may seem like a short term solution to problems at home, but the mid to long term prospects are probably a life stuck on benefits. | "It may seem like a short term solution to problems at home, but the mid to long term prospects are probably a life stuck on benefits. |
| "We should, as a society, be encouraging our young people to have much bigger and better aspirations than that." | "We should, as a society, be encouraging our young people to have much bigger and better aspirations than that." |
| Simon Blake of Brook added: "Most under-16s aren't having sex, but young people do want more education about sex. | Simon Blake of Brook added: "Most under-16s aren't having sex, but young people do want more education about sex. |
| "They want their parents to talk to them, their school to talk to them and they want confidential services to go to." | "They want their parents to talk to them, their school to talk to them and they want confidential services to go to." |
| Mandatory education | Mandatory education |
| Speaking on a visit to the Midlands, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I don't know the individual details of the case, but of course I think all of us would want to avoid teenage pregnancies." | Speaking on a visit to the Midlands, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "I don't know the individual details of the case, but of course I think all of us would want to avoid teenage pregnancies." |
| Beverley Hughes, children and young people's minister, said 80% of under-18 pregnancies were in 16 and 17-year- olds. | |
| "Evidence shows that good quality sex and relationship education and parents talking to their children delays early sex and increases the use of contraception whenever they do have sex. | "Evidence shows that good quality sex and relationship education and parents talking to their children delays early sex and increases the use of contraception whenever they do have sex. |
| "We know that life as a teenage parent is hard, with outcomes for them and their children often very poor. | |
| "That's why the government has issued guidance to local areas on providing the right support to improve the welfare of both the teenage parents and child." |