Bulwell gives birth to shock pregnancy statisstic

Latest figures show there were 376 teenage pregnancies among girls aged 15 to 17 in Nottingham during 2004, equating to a rate of 72.8 pregnancies per 1,000 teenage girls – although the number is less then in previous years.

In a new bid to bring the figure down further, the city's Teenage Pregnancy partnership has team up with the One Nottingham regeneration organisation to create an action team, with Bulwell among the areas targeted.

One Nottingham chairman Graham Allen (pictured), who is Bulwell's Labour MP, said: "In the 21st century, it is not our job to tell people how to live but I think the statistics show a worrying trend. Nationally, 42% of children were born out of wedlock, in Nottingham it's 59%.

"This is very concerning when taken in the context of the age of the mothers of these children. The statistics show that Nottingham has 52% more mothers under 20 than the national average.

"What the figures indicate is that more and more children are being born into unstable domestic situations. I know the One Nottingham theme partnerships on both education and health are very concerned about this. A young mother on her own cannot be expected to manage all the tasks of leading a household on her own and without sufficient experience.

"One Nottingham wants to partner the education department to pioneer a scheme to teach parenting in every secondary school. For too long we have shied away from this, due to an arcane feeling that educating our young people in the ways of parenting will somehow push them into being young parents. This is a fallacy becuause they are becoming young parents.

"It is our job to educate youngsters not just academically but socially, especially where they don't get that education at home, so that they don't make premature or accidental life-changing choices.