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NEWS: Britan Can Learn From Scandinavian Sex Education
A leading member of the Commons health committee has called for Britain to adopt Scandinavian sex education methods to tackle venereal disease.
Dr Doug Naysmith was responding to a BBC poll that found most people thought the government should act to discourage sex among under-16s.
The health committee reported on the issue after figures showed a record number of people are being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection.
In the BBC survey, some 86 per cent agreed the government should impose tougher restrictions on sexual images on children’s TV and in magazines aimed at children in order to discourage under-aged sex.
Three out of 10 thought less information about sex was key to discouraging sex among under-16s, whilst eight out of 10 said the government should spend funds on providing free condoms, although half did not believe these should be provided to people under the age of 16.
However, Naysmith told ePolitix.com that restricting children’s access to condoms and information would only make the problem worse.
The Bristol North West MP said: “In general what we need is much more freely available information that can be accessed in a form that young people take on board, but exactly how you do that is the challenge. I do not think that banning condoms for under 16s or not telling them about the issues will work in controlling sexually transmitted diseases.
“When the committee looked at this last year what we found that getting young people to deliver the message was the most effective way of getting through to children.
“We’ve a lot to learn from Scandinavian countries and Holland about relationship education and I hope the government will adopt the committee’s recommendations.”
The government health white paper is due out before Christmas.
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