An influential NHS group is calling on ministers to give nurses the power to offer condoms and the morning after pill in schools across Scotland.
Inquiry
The Scottish Sexual Health Lead Clinicians Group (SSHLCG) made the comments in a written submission to an inquiry being held into underage pregnancies by the Scottish parliament's Health and Sport Committee.
The inquiry was launched after the government failed to meets its target for lowering rates of conception among under-16s, leaving Scotland with one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Western Europe.
Interventions
In its letter, the SSHLCG urged ministers to make emergency contraception available to pupils through the school nurse network stating: “The Scottish Government should give consideration to the availability of certain interventions in schools, particularly in rural areas and areas with higher teenage pregnancies, including the availability of emergency hormonal contraception in schools."
It added: "The Scottish government is prepared to make a stand on controversial subjects like gay marriage, why does it run scared of its critics on the subject of making emergency contraception available in schools?"
Green light
But the proposals were criticised by parliamentary officer for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, John Deighan, who said: "Sexual behaviour is something that's for adults. Children deserve to have a childhood.
"Making emergency contraception available to children is a green light really that that's the sort of behaviour they should be involved in, and I think a lot of young girls especially want to resist that behaviour.
"But if adults are telling them 'no, we expect that of you' then you're really leaving them without the help and support they need."
Mockery
Andrea Williams of Christian Concern said: "Such proposals make a mockery of age of consent laws, and usurp the role of parents who have the right to raise their children in accordance with their religious and ethical convictions.
"Making contraceptive services available to children at such ease will only encourage premature sexual activity with damaging and far-reaching consequences.
“Children need to be protected from the liberal sexual ethic underlying Britain’s ‘contraception culture’ and taught about the benefits of abstinence before marriage.”
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