TEENAGE mum Carley Treagust slammed a charity's advice pack on abortions saying she may never have had her beloved son if she had read the leaflet. Her views added to criticism of the Government's sex education policies as it battles to reduce high teenage pregnancy rates. Meanwhile rates of sexually transmitted diseases are also reported to be soaring. Reporter RICHARD HOOTON investigates the debate on sex education and what is being done to get the message across. . .

CARLEY was 15 when she gave birth. And without the support of her parents, she said the pressure to have an abortion because of her age may have deprived her of her wonderful son, Blake.

Government guidelines tell doctors they can give abortions to children without telling their parents. Ministers argue that some youngsters may be too scared to seek help for fear of their parents knowing.

But Carley, 19, of Blackburn, who works as a peer education advisor for Brook Advisory Clinic, fears the "secret abortion advice" and information given in the Education for Choice leaflet, could lead to an increase in local girls choosing terminations. And she says under age girls should not be made aware of the option unless it is absolutely necessary.

The "secret abortion" advice is part of the battle to reduce East Lancashire's high teenage pregnancy rate.

Nationally there is a pregnancy rate of 42.8 per 1,000 girls aged 15-17 with Blackburn and Darwen having a higher rate at 52.3. For Burnley the rate stands at 56.6, in Pendle 47.1, Rossendale 47.3, Hyndburn 58.5 and Ribble Valley 18.8.

Critics have attacked the Government's policies on reducing teenage pregnancies saying handing out condoms, the morning after pill and the option of secret abortions encourages under-age sex.

They want ministers to follow America's lead where an abstinence sex education policy is said to have led to teenage pregnancy rates plunging by 50 per cent in the last decade.

The Government launched a new White Paper at the end of last year on public health that again looked to address the issue.

And the Health Select Committee has called for sex and relationships education to become a part of the National Curriculum.

Meanwhile, there has been an increase in rates of sexually-transmitted infections nationally with a report from the National Office of Statistics showing infection rates in under-20s have doubled in the last decade.

The number of new HIV diagnoses rose by 20 per cent last year, meaning an estimated 50,000 people are living with HIV in the UK.

Condom makers Durex carried out a survey showing that 39 per cent of 16-20 year-olds in the UK admit to having had unprotected sex without knowing their partners sexual history. A third said they would risk unsafe sex.

Durex say they are working with the Department of Health, MPs and health charities and have developed sex education material for schools.

Health groups also did their bit at the end of November by handing out free condoms supplied by Durex to young people in pubs in East Lancashire in the run up to World Aids Day.

But local MPs are divided over the issue.

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "I think there's a balance to be struck but it's difficult to get that balance right.

"On the one hand you are seeking to warn young people about the dangers of premature sex activity but on the other you are trying to limit the consequences if that message is ignored."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "I think the Government has got the balance wrong. Sex education - yes, a free for all with condoms - no.

"It seems that the Government is sending out confusing messages to young people. They need advice but not free condoms."

Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "It's a very difficult balance to strike. We need to cut the rate of teenage pregnancy and sexual diseases among young people and that means we have to accept the reality of life. It would be better if we could persuade young people not to indulge in early sexual activity but we can't always do that."

Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health at Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT, said: "The teenage pregnancy rate in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale have been traditionally higher than the national average, but looking at trends over time the rates are falling, and if anything falling faster than the rest of the country.

"That is good news in that we are narrowing the gap."