Annual statistics last week stated that in more than 20 years teenage pregnancies have fallen to their lowest rate.

There was a slight increase in pregnancies in 2007 but the government's teenage pregnancy strategy helped in bringing down pregnancies among under-16s and under-18s.

The Government in 1999 has set a target to halve the number of young women becoming pregnant by 2010 but it seems that this decline is far short of the Government's pledge.

During an interview, schools Secretary Ed Balls defended the Government's record and admitted that it would not be easy to achieve the reduction.

Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: Beyond 2010 was launched by children's minister Dawn Primarolo and public health minister Gillian Merron last week.

The methods to be adopted for meeting the aim was announcements including pilots of one-to-one sexual health and contraception consultations for 16-year-olds and providing more help for teachers and better school-based health services.

Julia Hassall, chair of Wirral Teenage Pregnancy Steering Group and head of branch for Children’s Social Care, at Wirral Council, said, “The improvement is really encouraging, and reflects the continued commitment of organisations working with young people across Wirral, to reduce the teenage conception rate and prevent unplanned pregnancy.”