Drop in abortions for women under 18

Department of Health statistics show that the abortion rate for under-16s in 2008 was 4.2 per 1,000 pregnancies while for under-18s it was 18.9.

In 2007 the under 16 abortion rate was 4.4 and the under 18 rate was 19.8 per 1,000 women.

In total for all age groups there were 195,296 abortions in 2008, compared with 198,499 the year before, the first overall fall in three years.

Health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "It is good news that the number of abortions has fallen since 2007.

"For both the under 18 and under 16 rates, there has been a percentage decrease of 4.5 per cent in the past year."

Julie Bentley, chief executive of FPA, said: "We welcome these figures showing that fewer women are experiencing an unwanted pregnancy and the turmoil this brings to their lives.

"Continued investment in contraception services to ensure all sexually active women have the right method of contraception is essential to sustain this trend."

Simon Blake, national director of sexual health charity Brook, said: "We must help young people feel empowered and confident to only have sex when they choose, when they are mature enough to enjoy and take responsibility for their sexual choices.

"We must also continue to invest in contraceptive services and ensure young people are skilled to access them - this is key to reducing conception and abortion rates."