Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that 1008 vs 907 an 11% increase?

Andrew, London,

In many cases these kids have nothing else in their lives. Having a child causes them to become the centre of attention. As in all things. if the paramaters are known and the results of digression are undesireable, the problem will wilt away to a large extent.

tiny, Birmingham , England

I'm a woman and I am completely against abortion. Especially partial-birth abortion. I've known women who have died from having an abortion and even a couple who have died from birth control pills. I will continue to fight for the rights of unborn babies and fight against this violence.

Mary, Carmel, United States

It is very disturbing that girls that young are even sexually active. Psychologically, I think the worst thing for them is to get an abortion. They should learn to deal with the consequences. What will they believe later in life? When in trouble, have the other person killed at your convenience?

Elizabeth, Parkville,

Feeding girls birth control and abortions are not the answers to all these problems. These kids and perhaps some adults need to be taught some different values. Bottom line, sex is a reproductive process. If you are not ready to have a child, don't have sex. Pure and simple. Killing babies is wrong

Louis, Singapore,

Pat from Tampa - I've had an abortion, it WAS the correct decision and I've NEVER regretted it - there I've said it! Stop forcing your ideas on other people - who do you think you are!? Men should stop assuming they know better than the girls who cannot escape the responsibility of their bodies.

louise, st ives, uk

"Abortions rose overall last year by 2.5 per cent across all women, but the increase among schoolchildren was the greatest."

It is simply appalling that this sentence should need to be written. Abortions for school children??? What kind of society is it that the UK has today? Terrible!

Bill, Suzhou, China

Sex must rank close behind the arms, drinks and tobacco industries so what does society expect when children are fed on a daily diet of sex via films, videos, TV, mags etc. Education could have the opposite effect by encouraging youngsters to practice what parents and teachers preach

peter fieldman, paris , france

Billy, thats not the point, i accept that some of the girls becoming pregnant are children but doesn't excuse the violation of the babies rights.

Colin, Notttingham, England

Also, there are always 1000's of married couples who can't have children, who would love those aborted babies more than anything in the world. I don't automatically expect a 14 year old girl to raise her child, there is also adoption. But denying an unique person a life is a crime as humanity.

Colin, Notttingham, England

Pat - no one doubts that you 'don't care'. Forcing girls through pregnancies they don't want is the answer then, yes?

Toni, Chester,

When will we learn that parents cannot be relied upon to educate their children on how their bodies work? This must be the role of schools and dedicated professionals to teach young people responsibility and empower them with the basic facts. Making abortion illegal is not the answer.

Helen, Edinburgh, Scotland

Nick, London - you seem to assume this is somehow solely a female problem. The figures for teenage pregnancies are probably directly linked to an identical attitude among teenage boys, who remain unable to see the need for or to use condoms.

Clive, Basildon,

Abortion is murder - there I have said it , and I don't care...To put young girls through the misery and unending heartache of agreeing to perform this hateful act of ending a life - is the worst thing anyone can contribute to...

Pat, Tampa Bay, USA

Under British laws,being pregrant during teenager would not be accepted by people right around UK..It's pointing out that parents are supposed to look after their girls tightly and don't allow them out with a guy.

cristiano, Wuhan, China

We could stop all this right now. It is so simple. Just feed all girls aged 12 to 16 contraceptive pills with their breakfast. Problem solved (to a > 99% accuracy level).

Nick, London, UK

I think Colin in Nottingham is missing the point entirely. Girls under 14 ARE children. How do expect them to raise one?

Billy, London,

Well, this article neatly gives the pro-abortion point of view. What do pro-life organisations have to say about the latest statistics, or is this something Ms Booth thinks we don't need to be told? Let's keep the argument simple, eh?

Hugh Mann, Cambridge,

Better sex education and easier access to contraception would be a start. For all the progress in this area, the conservative elements of society still shun the idea of more open discussion with children. A condom costs a few pence to manufacture and no distress to use. An abortion is expensive.

Gary, Manchester, UK

does anyone outside of the press use the term "gymslip"? It ranks up there with tabloid classics "hubby" and "pals".

Andy Taylor, Reading,

The liberals may think they are protecting the mothers rights by advocating abortion, but what about the violation of the childs rights. By supporting abortion people are simply riding roughshod over the childs right to life. Make abortion illegal.

Colin, Notttingham, England