Remit
The Health and Sport Committee is holding an inquiry into teenage pregnancy in Scotland. The remit of the inquiry is set out below.
a. to assess whether the action being taken in Scotland is sufficient to bring about real and sustained reductions in unplanned teenage pregnancy.
b. to explore with witnesses what further action may be required to ensure that those young people at risk of pregnancy at a young age, or who have a baby when they are very young, are able to gain access to appropriate support and services.
Timetable
The Committee took evidence at its meetings on 22 January, 19 February, 26 February and 5 March. The Committee published its report on 3 June 2013.
On 15 August 2014, the Committee received an update from the the Minister for Public Health providing the outcomes, to date, from the Expert Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Community Pharmacy and an update on Post-partum Contraception Provision in NHS Lothian.
Evidence
The Committee has issued a call for written views which ran from 7 January 2013 to 7 February 2013.
The Committee conducted an oral evidence session on 22 January with representatives from the following organisations:
The Committee conducted an oral evidence session on 19 February with representatives from the following organisations:
The Committee conducted an oral evidence session on 26 February with representatives from the following organisations:
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Who Cares? Scotland;
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CHILDREN 1st;
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NSPCC Scotland;
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Family Planning Association;
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Brook;
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WAVE Trust;
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CARE for Scotland;
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Fife Gingerbread;
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Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange, University of Bedfordshire
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ScotCen Social Research;
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Edinburgh Napier University
The Committee conducted an oral evidence session on 5 March with the Minister for Public Health.
On 21 January the Committee visited Smithycroft Secondary School, Glasgow.
On 28 January the Committee also visited The Corner and Menzieshill High School, Dundee.
On 4 February the Committee also visited Positive Steps, Oldham.
Report
The Committee published its report on 3 June 2013.
Additional Information
Read SPICe's briefing on Teenage Pregnancy.