[Margaret Pilkington]

Anyone who indulges in sexual activity without taking precautions is reckless, and while they may not consciously be planning to get pregnant, by taking the risk, which is deliberate, then it could be considered purposeful.

I worked in the NHS, and came into contact with girls and young women who had 'found' themselves pregnant......this had come about because they were lax in taking care of their sexual health.
This was in a time when sex education and contraceptive advice was freely available....but a lot of these young women couldn't be bothered(the boys are just as much to blame, but they do not have the babies so it appears not to be so relevant to them).
My colleagues and I spent our time giving contraceptive advice, and contraceptive supplies to these young women....to find them coming to our service for help more than once or twice.
Now to make a mistake once is forgivable, but to get into the same situation over again is not.

Some young girls know that by having a baby they will become entitled to housing and benefits......they want to get away from their parents(for whatever reason) and then they become career mothers, because they have no marketable job skills....it is easier to stay at home and produce babies......not necessarily because you like babies, but because that is what generates the money.

I am not saying that all single mothers fall into this category, because clearly they don't. Some of the teen pregnancies may be in stable relationships...but I suspect the majority are not.

I think a further breakdown of the figures would be helpful........ but may show the story to be less controversial, and controversy sells papers.