http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005082047,00.html

By LAURA HOLLAND

THE number of girls aged 14 and under having abortions has risen above 1,000
a year for the first time.

There were 1,023 14-year-olds who had a termination in 2003 and 148 girls
even younger.

The shock new figures may force Labour to re-think its policy on under-age
abortions.

The Government caused fury by advising doctors they can perform abortions on
girls under 16 without parents' consent.

Nuala Scarisbrick, of anti-abortion group Life, said: "These statistics are
horrifying. The Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy is not doing
anything other than encouraging under-age sex, leading to an increase in
under-age pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and all the heartache
that goes with experimenting with sex when you're young. Sex is for adults,
not children."

Parents are fighting in the High Court to stop teen abortions being kept
secret.

The Government had refused to publish the termination figures - claiming it
risked identifying individuals - until forced to do so under the Freedom Of
Information Act.

In 2003, 1,171 girls aged 15 and under had abortions in England and Wales.
The Government has ploughed £138million into fighting teenage pregnancies.


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