Teenage parents

This was the week that it turned out a 13 year old boy had fathered a child with his 15 year old girlfriend.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2238252.ece

The whole situation raises all sorts of questions for those of us in politics, not only is there the issue of the young couple being supported by the welfare state until they are legally old enough to work but also the wider social effects.

Research has proved a link between lack of Sex Education and teenage pregancies, Britian with its very high rate of teenage preganancies could learn alot from the Netherlands when it comes to Social policy.

There is also the issue of hope if you are a 14 year old girl growing up in an area of low career prospects, you view your chances of life with a well paid career and home ownership out of your reach, then its easy to see getting pregnant and becoming relient on wefare is an option that is not seen as a disaster.

The key to avoiding things like this in the future is through education and fostering a spirit of social enterprise.